History

In 2011 Edith Cowan University (ECU) celebrates 20 years as a university having been awarded university status in 1991. The origins of Edith Cowan University date back to 1902 with the establishment of Claremont Teachers College, the first tertiary education institution in Western Australia. Other teacher training colleges were formed over the years, including Graylands Teachers College (GTC), the Western Australian Secondary Teachers College (WASTC), Nedlands College of Advanced Education (NCAE), Mount Lawley Teachers College (MLTC) and Churchlands Teachers College

In 1982 these colleges were all merged to form the Western Australian College of Advanced Education (WACAE) - with campuses in Churchlands, Nedlands, Claremont, Bunbury and Joondalup

Western Australian College of Advanced Education (WACAE) was granted university status on 1 January 1991 and changed its name to Edith Cowan University. ECU in effect was the modern descendant of the first institution of higher education in Western Australia.

Edith Cowan University was named after the first woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament, Edith Dircksey Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman. Edith Dircksey Cowan worked tirelessly to raise funds for students to attend universities in other states, prior to a university being built in Western Australia, obtaining government support for her scheme. She believed education was the key to growth, change and improvement and her contribution to the development of Western Australian education was significant. Her work in this area was acknowledged by naming Western Australia's oldest education institution and newest university after her, as well as her image being added to the Australian $50 note.

ECU Today

Today, ECU is Western Australia's second largest university with approximately 20,000 students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, approximately 4000 of whom are international students originating from over 90 countries outside Australia.

Our focus on teaching and research is inspired by engagement and partnerships, and we take every opportunity to link with those in the many communities we were established to serve. We engage widely with local, national and international institutions, industry and community partners, and all levels of government; establishing and partnering in research centres; appointing researchers who are leaders in their fields; and commercialising applied outcomes.

ECU seeks to grow its research capacity and generate enhanced research outcomes in selected areas of excellence, achieved through building areas of concentration, depth and sustainability, particularly where there is potential for high social, economic, environmental and cultural impact.

Areas of Involvement

Our research priorities focus on working towards solving real problems across the social, economical, physical and environmental spectrums. ECU is committed to undertaking world class research; areas of research strength include Aboriginal Health, Education & Community, Business & Society, Education, Engineering and ICT, Environment & Sustainability, Health & Wellness, Security Law & Justice, Society & Community, Communications, Humanities, Media & Creative Arts.

Collaboration

The development and maintenance of international linkages are important to the University's Internationalisation activities and in contributing to positive research and teaching outcomes

ECU has established relationships with a number of universities regulated by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering staff and student exchange and joint research activity.

ECU collaborates with various countries including India, China, Korea, Japan, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, US, England, and Scotland,

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