A Spirit of true learning: The Jubilee History of the University of New England

Abstract

Written to commemorate the University of New England's fiftieth year as an independent institution, 'A Spirit of True Learning' tells the story of the University's early struggles, its commitment to country students and the surrounding community, its rapid growth after autonomy, its development of a strong tradition of teaching and research, and its experiences over the last decade within the context of government reform and rationalisation.This is also the story of a unique university. Like the Australian National University, UNE was founded during the great age of Australian nation-building and Keynesian optimism. Opened as an affiliate college of the University of Sydney in 1938, New England became autonomous in 1954. Its founders saw it as a deliberate attempt to bring the special advantages and the special problems of rural life in Australia under the spotlight of higher learning.