Lumen Summer 2017 - Flipbook - Page 2
The University of Adelaide Alumni Magazine
www.adelaide.edu.au/lumen
Chatting with
the Vice-Chancellor
Lumen caught up with Vice-Chancellor and President,
Professor Warren Bebbington, for a quick chat about his
university days, music and steering the University of Adelaide.
What do you remember from your
own days as a student, particularly
extracurricular activities?
I became a university student in 1970 at
the height of the Vietnam War and the
protest movement in universities. I was
interested in student politics and was
elected to the Student Representative
Council quite early on, so this was my
main extracurricular activity.
The Lumen masthead is derived
from the University of Adelaide
motto “Sub Cruce Lumen” –
the light (of learning) under
the (Southern) Cross.
Studying at the University of
Adelaide means being part of
a rich tradition of excellence in
education and research, with
world-class academics and a
vibrant student life.
Seek Light.
The light of new knowledge.
But they were very different times; my
sister was arrested for breaking into the
council chamber. There was warfare
between what was perceived as them and
us – the administration and students. The
administration was seen, rightly or wrongly,
as defenders of causes like Vietnam and
the students didn9t approve.
You won the University of Melbourne Award
for Excellence in Teaching (Humanities) in
2005. Do you miss teaching?
Through the Elder Conservatorium of Music,
I still manage to do some teaching but I
would like to do more. Teaching students
is the most rewarding thing I do in a week,
because the students appreciate it and are
so responsive and it9s great to be out of
meetings and back in front of a group of
eager learners.
Tell me more about your background in music.
My mother played the piano at home and
she and my grandfather sang so there was
always classical music in the house. From
the age of six I was in the church choir and
it so happened the choir was conducted by
a young chemist called Robin Batterham,
who later went on to become Chief Scientist
of Australia. He was an extraordinarily good
role model for me in terms of combining
academic and scientiûc pursuits with music.
What do you see as the main challenges
facing the University of Adelaide?
The main challenge is to preserve a highquality traditional university experience at
a time when university funding is under
attack. Government funding is at an all-time
low and ûgures show that Australia is at
rock-bottom amongst OECD nations in its
public contribution to education.
The funding of universities in this country is
in dire straits. There is an easy way out of
this – you can have vast classes and save
money on staff. But we are committed to
a vision of small-group teaching. We9re
committed to preserving a university, which
requires funds. There needs to be a change
of sentiment in the public at large.
What are your greatest achievements so
far as Vice-Chancellor?
The Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences
building. When I started, the government
had decided to move the hospital away from
the University. We didn9t have a site there
and there was really no solution proposed.
Acquiring a site next to the hospital,
securing the $60 million grant from the
Commonwealth – which is the largest ever
to a University in the State – and getting
that building completed on budget and
on time is a joy for me.
