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Tuesday, 18 February 2003

Backgrounder: University of Adelaide world class centre for food and wine.

The University of Adelaide today embarked on a major strategy to enhance its international profile in wine education and strengthen its links with industry and the community by taking over the running of the National Wine Centre in Adelaide.

Addressing a media conference at the centre this morning, the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor James McWha, said this opportunity provides the perfect platform to build on the University's strong reputation for excellence in wine education and research.

"The National Wine Centre will provide improved links with the wine industry, it offers unique marketing angles and much needed space for the expansion of our wine-related programs," he said.

"It will also allow us to work with other educational institutions such as TAFE, universities and schools."

Professor McWha also confirmed that the National Wine Centre would remain open to the public and for a reduced entrance fee.

"Although we view this as an exciting time for the University of Adelaide, we want to assure the public they will still be able to enjoy this outstanding facility," Professor McWha said. "We will be providing additional parking, there will be a café in the concourse, the function space will be available after hours and the many fine displays within the centre will remain."

Professor McWha said that staff and students alike in the Faculty of Sciences would benefit from this move, as it places the University at the centre of Australia's best purpose-built wine exhibition centre.

The University of Adelaide's Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Professor Peter Rathjen, views the lease of the National Wine Centre as a unique opportunity to reinforce the University's wine programs.

Professor Rathjen says the centre will provide the following opportunities:

• Focus the marketing of the University's wine-related programs through its identity as the National Wine Centre.
• Better represent in the exhibition the contribution of the Roseworthy School to the history of wine making in Australia.
• Build better links with the wine industry through the unique co-location with the nation's wine industry bodies.
• Coordinate the North Terrace wine-related activities of wine marketing and food technology.

Professor McWha said the University would clearly benefit from the additional space that is now being made available for its wine teaching programs.

"This now provides us with enough space to accommodate 200 students in the wine sensory evaluation classes, something we don't have at the Waite," he said. "The Busby Hall will be used for this purpose during the day, and after hours will be available for functions."

The University has agreed to lease the National Wine Centre for $1 million for a period of 40 years from the South Australian Government. The University moves into the wine centre on July 1, 2003.

The University of Adelaide currently offers 20 wine-related courses, more than 780 students, including 30 internationals, were enrolled last year. There are undergraduate and postgraduate courses.