History of the ANU

The Australian National University (ANU) was founded in 1945 with proposals for the University dating back to 1925 with the establishment of the Canberra University College (CUC), however the first ideas were floated in 1900 wherein the the new University was to buck the trend of the traditional UK based universities and primarily be set up as a research university.


Upon inception the ANU's philosophy was :


“envisaged to be of enduring significance in the life of the nation – to support the development of national unity and identity, to improve Australia’s understanding of itself and its neighbours, and to contribute to economic development and social cohesion” (ANU 2004:vi)




So in 1945 the Mills Committee (that was responsible for the birth of the ANU) called for a  University , that was primarily  focused on postgraduate studies with institutes to study social medicine and social sciences. It was shortly afterwards that it was proposed that the ANU was to have 5 institutes.:
Medical Research, Social Sciences, Pacific Affairs, Town and Regional Planning and Atomic Physics. Years end 1945 the first three on the list were unconditionally approved with the following mission statements

1. "To encourage, and provide facilities for, post-graduate research and study, both generally and in relation to subjects of national importance to Australia;
2. To provide facilities for university education for persons who elect to avail themselves of those facilities and are eligible so to do;
3. Subject to the Statutes, to award and confer degrees and diplomas."

Eventually it was decided that the University have two parts: 1)the Institute of Advanced Studies,  (research schools with research and graduate training) 2) the School of General Studies (now called The Faculties) that comprise faculties with undergraduate and graduate teaching and research.

Source : http://heritage.anu.edu.au/?pid=7

The Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering