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Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor and President
Professor Peter Høj AC,
Vice-Chancellor and President
Welcome to the University of Adelaide, one of the top 1% of universities worldwide.
At the University of Adelaide, innovation and world-class teaching and learning are built on a rich history of excellence spanning more than 140 years.
Our bright young minds learn alongside internationally recognised leaders in their fields, and our globally recognised research creates economic and social impact for industry, government and the community.
A member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) research-intensive universities, Adelaide is the leading university in our state. Our operational revenue of almost $1 billion annually makes us a major educational and research powerhouse, with the vast majority of our research rated ‘above or well above world standard’ by the Australian Research Council’s Excellence in Research Australia program.
Five Nobel Laureates, more than 100 Rhodes Scholars – including Australia’s first and third Indigenous recipients – and Australia’s first female Prime Minister are all among our distinguished alumni. We attract a diverse student body from more than 90 countries.
The University of Adelaide is known for its excellence, creativity of thinking, and innovation. We were established on a foundation of access and equity, and we have a proud history of diversity – we were the first university in Australia and among the first in the world to admit women to all degree programs.
Under my leadership, the University of Adelaide will also be known for its integrity, honesty and accountability, for its diversity of opinions and backgrounds, for a culture of mutual respect and dignity, and for its dedicated support for our students and staff, and the community in which we are based. Together we will achieve more for the prosperity and social cohesion of the local and global communities we serve in.
Thank you.
Professor Peter Høj AC
Vice-Chancellor and President
About Professor Peter Høj AC
Professor Peter Høj AC has more than 25 years' senior leadership experience in higher education and research and is the current Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide. Prior to that he was Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Queensland (2012 – 2020) and The University of South Australia (2007 – 2012).
He was educated at the University of Copenhagen, majoring in biochemistry and chemistry, and has a Master of Science degree in biochemistry and genetics, and a PhD in photosynthesis.
Professor Høj was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2019 for "eminent service to higher education and to science, particularly to the commercialisation of research, and to policy development and reform".
Professor Høj is a Fellow of Academies in Australia, the USA and Denmark, and has been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, University of Queensland, La Trobe University, and University of Copenhagen.
In addition to his academic leadership roles, Professor Høj is Trustee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and a member of the IP Group Australia Steering Group. His previous Board roles include Wine Australia, the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board for the Medical Research Future Fund, Member of the Australian Human Rights Commission Leadership Council on Cultural Diversity, Group of Eight (including Chair in 2017), Universities Australia, CSIRO, Business SA and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. He has also served on the Australian Government’s University Foreign Interference Taskforce.
Professor Høj commenced in February 2021 as the University of Adelaide's 24th Vice-Chancellor and President.