MURDOCH University is pushing into Fremantle.

Vice-chancellor Richard Higgott, a South Fremantle resident, says he “can’t get over how disconnected” the 39-year-old university is from the port city. It is in talks with Fremantle council to shift part of its film and television school into the old boys school—replacing the recently departed FTI, and has joined forces with Notre Dame to encourage first- and second-year pre-medical students study at the South Street campus.

Since his appointment in 2011 Professor Higgott has reduced the number of schools at Murdoch from 14 to eight and appointed new deans.

He says the new mix—such as combining psychology and exercise and bringing in nurses from the Peel campus to harness the advantages of being near big hospitals—reflects the university’s modern teaching and research priorities.

“I was here as a young lecturer, the place was filled with edgy bright young people. But Murdoch lost its way, I have no problem saying that. When I arrived, I found a place that was over-managed and under-governed. We’re not Monash. We’re not 60,000 students with a $1.5 billion annual turnover, we’re 22,000 students with a $350 million turnover. So we have to be nimble.”

He says a culture of institutional “corporatisation” has demoralised staff and undermined leadership.

by CARMELO AMALFI