Why offshore campuses are good for the Illawarra

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Why offshore campuses are good for the Illawarra

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Max Lu explains how the University’s offshore earnings flow back into the Illawarra, strengthening the region’s economy and future workforce.

From the escarpment to the steelworks, Wollongong has never been a place that looks only inward.  

This is a city built by people who came from all over the nation and the world, worked in industries that sold to the world, and created something enduring on the south coast. Steel and coal did more than shape our economy; they shaped a culture that is outward-looking, resilient and globally connected, yet firmly grounded in place.  

That history matters when we talk about the University of Wollongong today.  

From time to time, people ask how campuses in places like Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India fit with UOW's mission to serve the Illawarra. It is a fair question. My answer is that we serve this region best not by shrinking our horizons, but by connecting Wollongong more strongly to the world and ensuring the benefits flow back home.

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2026 | Why offshore campuses are good for the Illawarra - University of Wollongong – UOW