VC outlines his vision for 2025 after "a year from hell"

Brian Schmidt AC. Image credit: ANU - ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC has set out the University's vision for 2025, as it emerges from one of the toughest years in its history and approaches its 75th anniversary.  "Let's face it, it was a year from hell," Professor Schmidt told ANU staff and students during his State of the University address at Llewellyn Hall on Wednesday.  "Fire, ice, contagion, anarchy.   "These things forced big changes upon us."   Professor Schmidt outlined four clear goals for the University for the year 2025:   - providing a student experience equal to the world's best   conducting research that transforms society   meeting our national responsibility through a renewed compact with the Australian Government; and  being an equitable and inclusive university of choice. Professor Schmidt said he admired how students kept on learning without the benefits of being on campus during the pandemic.   "They did it brilliantly, adapting and succeeding academically in a suddenly different learning environment," he said.   "But now they want to come back to campus.   "And we have a moral obligation to ensure they return to the best campus experience we can provide. We need to seize the moment and begin to make our campus a far better place to learn."  Professor Schmidt said learning at university is not about ticking boxes.  "And it's not about accumulating units, it's about being able to solve problems with whatever challenges life throws at you. More than that, it's about getting an education - an education in life," he said.