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UWS re-brand leak sparks student outcry
The leaking of a purported $20 million rebranding of the University of Western Sydney has led to a student backlash. The university is being accused of squandering valuable funds and creating an institutional identity crisis.
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I cannot believe why there should be a “student backlash” or UWS student representative Jarrod Bradley comments. I believe in free speech on any topic but I also believe that the University’s Board and Council and Trustees are running the University and not Mr Bradley or Benjamin Eorlingas.
All universities around Australia are needing a Strategic Plan to survive the changes in the next 5 to 10 years and all are working with Marketing Gurus to achieve this.
Students should be happy that the University has a survival plan for a future beyond 2015 and get on with their studies and leave the running of the universities to the professionals.
The students have a right to be engaged on these particular issues irrespective of whether one agrees or not with their views. I sympathise with their views and the obvious passion and identity for their institution.
Students need to be aware that a name and a logo do not make a university. The staff, students and alumni do. What you say and how you represent your university is a reflection of the university. Instead of criticizing the plan (without even knowing the whole story, just a bunch of hearsay) why don’t you wait til the official launch to judge?
Students do have a right to engage, but they also need to be better informed instead of jumping on the media band wagon. Those who sign the petition saying that the logo is their identity of the university – should know that the university has previously changed the logo in the past back in 2002. So the bird was not actually the first logo.
This is a great branding strategy not only for UWS but for the region. It’s about time we showed the talent behind the people and the businesses in the Greater Western Sydney and celebrate what we have to offer. Stop the tall poppy syndrome and give it a chance!
I agree with Professor Canning; we live in a democracy and students have every right to express their opinion. They also often have a clarity of vision which has been lost by their elders.
@Gordon; “Marketing Gurus”? “…they should get on with their studies and leave the running of Universities to professionals”??
Presumably these Guru’s and Professionals were University students once too? Why shouldn’t they have their opinion valued? Particularly if they are the target market? Ever heard of Market research?
Funny how if they’ve done market research in the target market, this is the first time the students have heard of it? where’s the $20 mill going?
John