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| The ''']''' ('''RMIT''') is an Australian ], founded by |
The ''']''' ('''RMIT''') is an Australian ], founded by ] ] in 1887, in ], ]. | ||
| == The Working Men's College == | |||
| ==Early history== | |||
| {{see|Working Men's College, Melbourne}} | |||
| ]]] | ]]] | ||
| In 1881, ], a prominent land owner, ], philanthropist and Member of Parliament, offered £5,000 towards the establishment of a Working Men's College, on the condition that the general public contributes a similar sum. During the following five years, the money was raised by the Melbourne Trades Hall Council, which levied support amongst its member unions<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| In 1881, prominent ] and ], ], proposed that a ] would serve "useful" to City of ]. Ormond, who had donated the majority of funds towards the foundation of ] at the ], offered £5,000 towards the establishment of a college on the proviso that the public contribute a "like sum".<ref name=RMIT>{{harvnb|Murray-Smith|Dare|1987}}</ref><ref name=ross>{{harvnb|Ross|1912}}</ref><ref name="Time Line"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805200853/http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=q0dhwbxncmdc |date=2008-08-05 }}</ref> | |||
| ] and Bowen streets, circa 1900s]] | |||
| ] | |||
| A considerable sum was raised by the Council of the ], which rallied support amongst its membership of unions. Construction of the "]" then began in 1886, on a site provided by the Colony of ], next to the ], and adjacent the ] on ]. The College was officially opened during a gala ceremony on 4 June 1887<ref name="RMIT"/> and, on the night of its opening, took 320 enrollments which increased to over 1000 in its first 12 months of operation. Ormond, a staunch believer in the values of education and a tireless campaigner for the College, served as its President until his death in 1889.<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="ross" /> | |||
| Construction of the Working Men's College began on a site adjacent the ] on ] in 1886, and the College opened with a gala ceremony in June 1887. On the night of its opening, the College's original building (now the ] Building) took 320 enrolments in technical, business and arts areas, and within 12 months of opening enrolments had risen to over 1000 students<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref>. | |||
| The College began offering full-time courses in 1899 and was incorporated under the "''Companies Act''" as a private college in 1904.<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> Around the turn of the century, it began developing courses in ], ], ], ] and ]. Between the 1900s and the 1920s, the College expanded beyond its foundation building, and constructed two new buildings on nearby Bowen Street, a new Art School and also acquired the neighbouring, and recently decommissioned, ] site for expansion.<ref name="RMIT"/> | |||
| The Working Men’s College appointed its first full-time instructors in 1899. In the same year, full-time diploma courses were offered for the first time, first in engineering and then applied science. Departments in engineering, chemistry, metallurgy and mining, fitting and turning also began to develop during the turn of the century, which were aided by the substantial fees charged by the College for its full-time courses<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| During the 1930s, the College underwent further expansion with the completion of an Engineering School and a Radio School, and two more buildings constructed on Bowen Street. In 1934, the College officially changed its name to the "Melbourne Technical College" (incorporating The Working Men's College), after a representation from its Student's Association.<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> | |||
| In 1904, the College was incorporated under the Companies Act, whereas prior a board of trustees were personally responsible for the College’s finances<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. In 1905, the west end of Building 4 (now Building 28) was completed, and housed: printing, plumbing, gas fitting and carpentry trades teaching courses. In 1917, the Art School (now Building 2) was completed and, between 1917 and 1919, the College played a major role in training over 1500 returned Australian ] servicemen in various trade vocations for post-war life<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', , Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| == Legend of Ned Kelly's remains == | |||
| After the closure and partial demolishment of the nearby ], during the 1920s, the College acquired the site for future expansion. In 1929, the remains of Australia's most notorious ], ] (who was hanged at the gaol), were believed to have been discovered during the construction of the Kernot Engineering School. These remains were later reinterred ], and rediscovered in 2008<ref> - ], 9 March 2008</ref> |
After the closure and partial demolishment of the nearby ], during the 1920s, the College acquired the site for future expansion. In 1929, the remains of Australia's most notorious ], ] (who was hanged at the gaol), were believed to have been discovered during the construction of the Kernot Engineering School. These remains were later reinterred ], and rediscovered in 2008.<ref> - ], 9 March 2008</ref> However, no conclusive evidence of the remains suggest they are that of Ned Kelly's, and many historians believe his remains are still buried under the present day RMIT.<ref> - ], 12 March 2008</ref> | ||
| == Contribution to WWI and WWII == | |||
| Directly prior to, and during ], the College underwent a major expansion, beginning with the completion of the Kernot Engineering School in 1931<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref>. In 1934, the College Council agreed to change the name of the Working Men’s College to “The Melbourne Technical College” (incorporating the Working Men's College) after a representation from the Students' Association<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. During 1937, the Metallurgy Building (now Building 5) was completed as well as the first stage of the Radio School (now Building 9)<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| ] | |||
| The College contributed to Australia's war efforts both in ] and in ]. Initially, between 1917 and 1919, it trained over 1500 returned ] service men from World War I in vocational qualifications for post-war life in Australia.<ref name="RMIT"/> Between 1939 and 1945, during World War II, it made a greater contribution to Australia's war efforts by training 23,000 service men and women (approximately one-sixth of all trained in Australia),<ref name="RMIT"/><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019232144/http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=m6991zmldybd |date=2009-10-19 }} - {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026030838/http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=nrv8rk31811 |date=2008-10-26 }}, 24 April 2007</ref> mainly ] personnel in radio communications, as well as 2,000 civilians in munitions manufacturing. The ] also commissioned the College to manufacture parts for the Air Force's ].<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> | |||
| After World War II, and during the 1950s, the College again trained returned service men and women for post-war life, which prompted the development of courses in ], ], ] and ], and the revision of its art syllabuses. During this time, the College also embraced the ]' newly devised ], which increased its intake of ]n students greatly.<ref name="Time Line"/> | |||
| Between 1939 and 1945, the College again played a part in training Australian and New Zealand (]) servicemen, this time for ]. 22,000 servicemen attended the College, mostly ] (RAAF) personnel training in communications. 2000 civilians were also trained in munition manufacturing, and the government commissioned the College to manufacture parts for the RAAF's ]<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| == Royal patronage and birth of RMIT == | |||
| After ], and during the 1950s, the College developed courses in food technology, transport studies, accountancy, real estate and advertising, and the chemical engineering course is also upgraded with the cooperation of the ]<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. Its art syllabuses are also revised and courses in surveying are developed. During this time, the College also embraced the newly devised ], which increased its intake of ]n students greatly<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| <!-- Deleted image removed: ], to mark its royal patronage]] --> | |||
| In 1954, the College was awarded ] by ] - for its service to the Commonwealth in the area of education and for its contribution to the war effort; and was officially renamed the "Royal Melbourne Technical College".<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> It became (and remains to this day) the only higher education institution in Australia with the right of the prefix "Royal" along with the use of the ]'s ].<ref name="RMIT"/> | |||
| In 1960, the Council of the College voted to begin the process of reconstituting the college as a tertiary institution. The name of the College was then officially changed to the "'''Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'''".<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> | |||
| ==Creation of RMIT== | |||
| In 1954, the College became the only Australian tertiary institution to be awarded the right of the prefix "Royal", with the associated ] regalia, and became the “Royal Melbourne Technical College”<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. During the 1950s, the neighbouring hall of the ] (later renamed Storey Hall in 1959) was acquired by the College and its Art School established its reputation as a leader<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref>. In 1960, the Council of the College enacted another name change, this time to "'''Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'''", and thus the name "'''RMIT'''" was born<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref><ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| During the late 1950s and 1960s, the non-tertiary branch of RMIT was reconstituted as the "Technical College" (]), and it was believed the Institute and the College would eventually separate. However, the two have remained as incorporated branches of RMIT to the present day. During the 1960s, RMIT's Art School established its reputations as an Australian leader in its field.<ref name="RMIT"/> | |||
| During the 1960s and early 1970s, the non-tertiary arm of RMIT is reconstituted as the “Technical College” and it is assumed the Institute and the College would eventually separate<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. The first computer at RMIT, an ], was acquired at the instigation of the Department of Mathematics during the 1960s, and located on the ground floor of Storey Hall<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref>. Also during the 1970s, the Department of Aeronautics began to establish itself as an Australian leader<ref name="The Tech">Murray-Smith, S and Dare, A.J (1987): ''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology'', Hyland House Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 0-947062-06-8</ref>. | |||
| In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Institute expanded its degrees in ] and ], and the College expanded its courses in ] and general studies. In 1979, the neighbouring ] on ] amalgamated with RMIT, bringing with it its reputation in ] and ].<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> RMIT's Aeronautics School also established its reputation as an Australian leader in its field, during the late 1970s.<ref name="RMIT"/> | |||
| RMIT celebrated its ] in 1987 with a year-long calendar of events staged across the City of ], a ] set in the Bowen Street courtyard of the foundation building of the Working Men's College on ] and a book called "''The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology''", documenting the institute's 100 years of history, was also published.<ref name="RMIT"/><ref name="Time Line"/> | |||
| In 1992, RMIT was granted ] status by the ] under the "''Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Act''".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mams.rmit.edu.au/e06djrlyuhce1.pdf |title=Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Act (1992) |access-date=2008-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910142748/http://mams.rmit.edu.au/e06djrlyuhce1.pdf |archive-date=2008-09-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> RMIT's newly appointed Chancellery officially adopted the names "'''RMIT University'''" for its Institute branch and "RMIT TAFE" for its College branch, during the early 1990s, and its Design School also established its reputation as an international leader in eco-friendly design.<ref name="Time Line"/> | |||
| In 1991, RMIT withdrew from an agreement to merge with western suburbs technical institutes, to form what is now known as ], when the agreement was deemed unacceptable to all parties involved<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. RMIT later merged with the northern suburbs’ ] in 1992, acquiring the Institutes campuses in ] and ] (now ]-West). | |||
| == Expansion for the 21st Century == | |||
| RMIT was granted formal university status by the ] in 1992, under the ''"Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Act (1992)"''<ref></ref>, with Director David Beanland becoming Vice-Chancellor and Mr Ivan Deveson, ] appointed as the foundation Chancellor<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. In the same year, the new University Board adopted the marketing name, "'''RMIT University'''" | |||
| ] | |||
| Following its reconstitution as a public university, RMIT then underwent a large and rapid expansion where a number of other institutes and colleges became amalgamated with it, between 1993 and 1999, which included: Phillip Institute of Technology, Melbourne College of Decoration and Design, Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Art and Melbourne Institute of Textiles.<ref name="Time Line"/><ref name=textiles>{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802133921/http://www.rmit.edu.au/NEWS |date=2009-08-02 }}, 24 October 1998</ref> | |||
| In 1995, RMIT acquired the neighbouring, and recently vacated, former ] and City Watch House buildings on the corner of ] and ] streets, and renamed its expanding campus in Melbourne the ].<ref name="Time Line"/> It also established a new environmentally sustainable "country campus" around 20 km from the City campus, in ], which opened in 1995. | |||
| ==Recent history== | |||
| ] on ]]] | |||
| During the 1990s, RMIT underwent its biggest expansion since World War II. 1992 and 1993 saw the ]'s "Department of Visual Merchandising" and "Department of Interior Decoration and Design" amalgamate with RMIT's Faculty of Art and Design to create the ] School of Design<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. In 1994, the University purchased the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works' northern headquarters on Plenty Road in ] (now ]-East), and also became the first Australian university to adopt an explicit international strategy<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| ] on ], built in 1924 and refurbished by RMIT in 1999]] | |||
| In |
In 1999, it acquired the derelict state heritage-listed ] in the ], and refurbished it to its original design. It also established a specialised ] and ] campus in ], on the site of the former Melbourne Institute of Textiles in 1999, and became a founding member of the ], a coalition of leading Australian universities working with industry.<ref name="Time Line"/><ref name=ATN></ref> | ||
| At the turn of the century, RMIT was invited by the ] to establish ]'s first foreign-owned university. In 2001, it established "]" (now RMIT University Vietnam) near the centre of ], and a second campus in the Vietnamese capital city of ] in 2004.<ref name="vietnam"></ref> In its years of operation, the Government of Vietnam has awarded RMIT University Vietnam five Golden Dragon Awards for Education.<ref name=GoldenDragon> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225100546/http://rmit.edu.vn/news.php?nid=193 |date=2008-12-25 }} - {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026174204/http://www.rmit.edu.vn/listnews.php |date=2008-10-26 }}, 26 January 2008</ref> | |||
| In a World first, a ] at RMIT is researched, supervised, submitted, examined and stored entirely online. First posted online in 1995, the thesis "The Flight of the Ducks" was identified as being of national significance by the ] and archived electronically in 1996<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. | |||
| ⚫ | During the mid-2000s, RMIT experienced financial problems, partly due to problems associated with its student administration system upgrade (]47 million was spent in this effort). The financial problems eventually claimed the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ruth Dunkin. In 2005, RMIT appointed a new Vice-Chancellor, ] and, between 2006 and 2007, posted operating profits of A$50.1 million and then A$109.5 million each year respectively.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919072159/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21655229-12332,00.html |date=2008-09-19 }} - ], 2 May 2007</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424004726/http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=zfq3tjbb7yyu |date=2008-04-24 }} - {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026030838/http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=nrv8rk31811 |date=2008-10-26 }}, 18 April 2008</ref> In 2006, it also became a founding member of the ].<ref name=GU8> {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070629181731/http://site.inha.ac.kr/xelpa/users/u7/0_1.jsp |date=2007-06-29 }}</ref> | ||
| In 1996, the University vacated and sold its inherited campus in ] to the ], and focused on the development of its East and West ]. During the late 1990s, new buildings were constructed on both campus sites, which went on to win numerous prizes for architecture<ref name=BundooraCampus></ref>. | |||
| == Further reading == | |||
| Between 1998 and 1999, the university received the first Australian Export Award for Education in 1998, the ] Award for Education in 1998 and 1999, and the 1999 Business Asia magazine Award for Best Australian Service Activity in Asia<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. In 1999, the ] joined RMIT (now its ])<ref name=BrunswickCampus></ref>, and the university also purchased the derilect ] former ] and refurbishing it to architect ]'s original design<ref></ref>. | |||
| * {{cite Q|Q108394274}}<!-- The proposed working men's college --> | |||
| In 2000, RMIT established an international university in ] known as ] or "RMIT Vietnam" for short. Its first campus opened near the centre of ] in 2001, becoming ]'s first foreign-owned university, and a second campus was opened in ] in 2004<ref name="vietnam"></ref>. All degrees at the international university are accredited by RMIT in Australia and approved by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education, and its Bachelor of Business was the first non-Chinese degree in the World to also be granted official ] approval<ref name="Time Line"></ref>. In its years of operation to date, the ] has awarded RMIT Vietnam five Golden Dragon Awards for Education<ref> - , 26 January 2008</ref>. | |||
| ⚫ | During the |
||
| As of 2007, the University is undertaking a major upgrade of its ] in accordance with its ''"2007-2010 Infrastructure Plan"''<ref name=InfraPlan></ref>. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| '''Texts:''' | |||
| *{{Citation | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| | last = Ross | |||
| *] | |||
| | first = C. Stuart | |||
| *] | |||
| | title = Francis Ormond: Pioneer, Patriot, Philanthropist | |||
| | place = London; Melbourne | |||
| | publisher = Melville and Mullen | |||
| | year = 1912 | |||
| }} | |||
| *{{Citation | |||
| | last = Murray-Smith | |||
| | first = Stephen | |||
| | author-link = | |||
| | last2 = Dare | |||
| | first2 = Anthony J. | |||
| | author2-link = | |||
| | title = The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | |||
| | place = South Yarra (Melbourne) | |||
| | publisher = Hyland House | |||
| | year = 1987 | |||
| | edition = 1st | |||
| | url = | |||
| | isbn = 0-947062-06-8 | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Schools of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology}} | {{Schools of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology}} | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:History Of The Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 01:18, 18 November 2023
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) is an Australian public university, founded by Francis Ormond MLA in 1887, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The Working Men's College
Further information: Working Men's College, Melbourne
In 1881, prominent grazier and philanthropist, Francis Ormond, proposed that a technical college would serve "useful" to City of Melbourne. Ormond, who had donated the majority of funds towards the foundation of Ormond College at the University of Melbourne, offered £5,000 towards the establishment of a college on the proviso that the public contribute a "like sum".
A considerable sum was raised by the Council of the Melbourne Trades Hall, which rallied support amongst its membership of unions. Construction of the "Working Men's College" then began in 1886, on a site provided by the Colony of Victoria, next to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, and adjacent the Melbourne Public Library on La Trobe Street. The College was officially opened during a gala ceremony on 4 June 1887 and, on the night of its opening, took 320 enrollments which increased to over 1000 in its first 12 months of operation. Ormond, a staunch believer in the values of education and a tireless campaigner for the College, served as its President until his death in 1889.
The College began offering full-time courses in 1899 and was incorporated under the "Companies Act" as a private college in 1904. Around the turn of the century, it began developing courses in engineering, applied science, chemistry, metallurgy and mining. Between the 1900s and the 1920s, the College expanded beyond its foundation building, and constructed two new buildings on nearby Bowen Street, a new Art School and also acquired the neighbouring, and recently decommissioned, Melbourne Gaol site for expansion.
During the 1930s, the College underwent further expansion with the completion of an Engineering School and a Radio School, and two more buildings constructed on Bowen Street. In 1934, the College officially changed its name to the "Melbourne Technical College" (incorporating The Working Men's College), after a representation from its Student's Association.
Legend of Ned Kelly's remains
After the closure and partial demolishment of the nearby Old Melbourne Gaol, during the 1920s, the College acquired the site for future expansion. In 1929, the remains of Australia's most notorious bushranger, Ned Kelly (who was hanged at the gaol), were believed to have been discovered during the construction of the Kernot Engineering School. These remains were later reinterred Pentridge Prison, and rediscovered in 2008. However, no conclusive evidence of the remains suggest they are that of Ned Kelly's, and many historians believe his remains are still buried under the present day RMIT.
Contribution to WWI and WWII
j.jpg)
The College contributed to Australia's war efforts both in World War I and in World War II. Initially, between 1917 and 1919, it trained over 1500 returned Anzac service men from World War I in vocational qualifications for post-war life in Australia. Between 1939 and 1945, during World War II, it made a greater contribution to Australia's war efforts by training 23,000 service men and women (approximately one-sixth of all trained in Australia), mainly Royal Australian Air Force personnel in radio communications, as well as 2,000 civilians in munitions manufacturing. The Government of Australia also commissioned the College to manufacture parts for the Air Force's DAP Beaufort Bomber.
After World War II, and during the 1950s, the College again trained returned service men and women for post-war life, which prompted the development of courses in food technology, transport studies, accountancy and advertising, and the revision of its art syllabuses. During this time, the College also embraced the Commonwealth of Nations' newly devised Colombo Plan, which increased its intake of South East Asian students greatly.
Royal patronage and birth of RMIT
In 1954, the College was awarded royal patronage by Queen Elizabeth II - for its service to the Commonwealth in the area of education and for its contribution to the war effort; and was officially renamed the "Royal Melbourne Technical College". It became (and remains to this day) the only higher education institution in Australia with the right of the prefix "Royal" along with the use of the Monarchy of England's regalia.
In 1960, the Council of the College voted to begin the process of reconstituting the college as a tertiary institution. The name of the College was then officially changed to the "Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology".
During the late 1950s and 1960s, the non-tertiary branch of RMIT was reconstituted as the "Technical College" (TAFE), and it was believed the Institute and the College would eventually separate. However, the two have remained as incorporated branches of RMIT to the present day. During the 1960s, RMIT's Art School established its reputations as an Australian leader in its field.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Institute expanded its degrees in business and engineering, and the College expanded its courses in technology and general studies. In 1979, the neighbouring Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy on Russell Street amalgamated with RMIT, bringing with it its reputation in fashion design and food technology. RMIT's Aeronautics School also established its reputation as an Australian leader in its field, during the late 1970s.
RMIT celebrated its centenary in 1987 with a year-long calendar of events staged across the City of Melbourne, a time capsule set in the Bowen Street courtyard of the foundation building of the Working Men's College on La Trobe Street and a book called "The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology", documenting the institute's 100 years of history, was also published.
In 1992, RMIT was granted public university status by the Parliament of Victoria under the "Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Act". RMIT's newly appointed Chancellery officially adopted the names "RMIT University" for its Institute branch and "RMIT TAFE" for its College branch, during the early 1990s, and its Design School also established its reputation as an international leader in eco-friendly design.
Expansion for the 21st Century
Following its reconstitution as a public university, RMIT then underwent a large and rapid expansion where a number of other institutes and colleges became amalgamated with it, between 1993 and 1999, which included: Phillip Institute of Technology, Melbourne College of Decoration and Design, Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Art and Melbourne Institute of Textiles.
In 1995, RMIT acquired the neighbouring, and recently vacated, former Melbourne Magistrates' Court and City Watch House buildings on the corner of La Trobe and Russell streets, and renamed its expanding campus in Melbourne the City campus. It also established a new environmentally sustainable "country campus" around 20 km from the City campus, in Bundoora, which opened in 1995.
In 1999, it acquired the derelict state heritage-listed Capitol Theatre in the Melbourne central business district, and refurbished it to its original design. It also established a specialised fashion and printing campus in Brunswick, on the site of the former Melbourne Institute of Textiles in 1999, and became a founding member of the Australian Technology Network, a coalition of leading Australian universities working with industry.
At the turn of the century, RMIT was invited by the Government of Vietnam to establish Vietnam's first foreign-owned university. In 2001, it established "RMIT International University, Vietnam" (now RMIT University Vietnam) near the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, and a second campus in the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi in 2004. In its years of operation, the Government of Vietnam has awarded RMIT University Vietnam five Golden Dragon Awards for Education.
During the mid-2000s, RMIT experienced financial problems, partly due to problems associated with its student administration system upgrade (A$47 million was spent in this effort). The financial problems eventually claimed the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ruth Dunkin. In 2005, RMIT appointed a new Vice-Chancellor, Margaret Gardner and, between 2006 and 2007, posted operating profits of A$50.1 million and then A$109.5 million each year respectively. In 2006, it also became a founding member of the Global U8 Consortium.
Further reading
- William Emmett Murphy (28 August 1882). "The proposed working men's college: To the Editor of the Argus". The Argus: 4. ISSN 1833-9719. Wikidata Q108394274.
References
- ^ Murray-Smith & Dare 1987
- ^ Ross 1912
- ^ A Timeline of RMIT history (RMIT Homepage) Archived 2008-08-05 at the Wayback Machine
- Archaeologists sift grave for Kelly remains - ABC News, 9 March 2008
- Doubt on bone find - The Border Mail, 12 March 2008
- RMIT soldiers on during war time Archived 2009-10-19 at the Wayback Machine - Openline (RMIT News) Archived 2008-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, 24 April 2007
- "Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Act (1992)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
- RMIT affiliation with Melbourne Institute of Textiles - Openline (RMIT News) Archived 2009-08-02 at the Wayback Machine, 24 October 1998
- Australian Technology Network
- About RMIT Vietnam (RMIT Vietnam Homepage)
- RMIT Vietnam wins fifth consecutive Golden Dragon Award Archived 2008-12-25 at the Wayback Machine - RMIT VN News Archived 2008-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, 26 January 2008
- RMIT back in the black Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine - The Australian, 2 May 2007
- RMIT records another year of expansion Archived 2008-04-24 at the Wayback Machine - Openline (RMIT News) Archived 2008-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, 18 April 2008
- Global U8 Consortium Archived 2007-06-29 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
Texts:
- Ross, C. Stuart (1912), Francis Ormond: Pioneer, Patriot, Philanthropist, London; Melbourne: Melville and Mullen
- Murray-Smith, Stephen; Dare, Anthony J. (1987), The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (1st ed.), South Yarra (Melbourne): Hyland House, ISBN 0-947062-06-8
