UOW history, facts and figures

Sources of information

This guide will help you find both current and historical information, facts and figures about the University of Wollongong (UOW).

Who collects and/or publishes information about UOW and other universities?

  • University of Wollongong (UOW)
  • Federal Department of Education
  • Universities Australia
  • Graduate Careers Australia
  • National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) (academic staff)

Where is this information available?

top of page

Where can I find the history of UOW?

The University was established in 1951 as the Wollongong University College (WUC), part of the University of New South Wales. It officially became the University of Wollongong (UOW) in 1975.

The Wollongong Institute of Education (WIE), previously the Wollongong Teachers' College (WTC), amalgamated with the University in 1982.

On the Web:

In the Library/Archives:

  • University of Wollongong: An illustrated history 1951-1991 held at 378.9446/4
  • Development of the University of Wollongong 1973-1981 held at 378.944/WOLL/8
  • 25 Years: A History of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wollongong, 1975-2000 held at 378.944/WOLL/13
  • UNSW a Portrait: The University of New South Wales 1949-1999 held at 378.9441/5
  • Copies of other unpublished timelines held in Archives Collection - available on request

top of page

Where can I find details of UOW's organisation/services?

Try these quick links:

top of page

Where can I find UOW annual reports etc.?

Many reports are available online - see links below. Some older reports are only available in hardcopy in the Library/Archives. An ARC call number prefix = located in Archives Collection, Ground Level. For access ask at Research Help Desk.

UOW Annual Report

On the Web:

In the Library:

  • Latest year held at Research Help Desk
  • 1975+ held in Archives Collection at 378.94405/WOLL/5
UOW Research Report
On the Web: In the Library:
UOW Strategic Plan
On the Web: In the Library:
ITC (Illawarra Technology Corporation) Annual Report
On the Web:
  • Recent years on UOW website > About the University > Annual Reports
  • Recent years also on ITC website > About Us > Annual Reports
In the Library:
UOW Library Annual Report
On the Web:
  • 1999+ on Library website > Our Organisation > Publications > Annual reports
In the Library:
  • Latest year held at Research Help Desk
  • Earlier years held in Archives Collection at 378.94405/WOLL/8
Unicentre Annual Report
On the Web:
  • Recent years on Unicentre website > Governance > Publications > Annual reports
In the Library:
URAC (University Recreation & Aquatic Centre) Annual Report
On the Web: In the Library:
EED (Employment, Equity & Diversity) Unit Annual Report
On the Web: In the Library:
Annual reports of other units
On the Web: In the Library:
  • Small range of uncatalogued reports held in Archives Collection

How do I find other UOW related reports?

Use the Library's Classic Catalogue, try searches such as:

  • Keyword search > wollongong and university and report
  • Subject search > university of wollongong
  • Author search > university of wollongong
Try the UOW website search - see search tips below

top of page

How do I find news items about UOW?

News sources include UOW's own Media Unit, as well as commercial news services and newspapers (eg. Illawarra Mercury).

Looking for UOW Media/News Items?

Search UOW News & Media website

Browse individual UOW news publications

UOW Media Releases
On the Web: In the Library:
  • Earlier years held in Archives Collection
UOW News Items
On the Web:
UOW Campus News Magazine
On the Web: In the Library:
  • 1975+ held in Archives Collection at 378.94405/WOLL/26
  • Small range of other newsletters also held (eg. UOW Alumni's Graduate Gazette/Outlook magazine)

top of page

Looking for Newspaper Articles?

Search Library newspaper databases

Library Database Notes Search Tip
Proquest ANZ Newsstand Provides fulltext articles about UOW from the Illawarra Mercury, Sydney Morning Herald and other newspapers (starting dates vary for individual papers - some are 2001+, others are 1996+)

Use search phrase ("university of wollongong" OR "wollongong university" OR "uow") See UOW news search examples [PDF]

Truncation symbol: *

Factiva Provides fulltext articles about UOW from the Illawarra Mercury, Sydney Morning Herald and other newspapers (starting dates vary for individual papers - most are 1990s+ )

Use search phrase ("university of wollongong" OR "wollongong university" OR "uow") See UOW news search examples [PDF]

Truncation symbol: *

SMH Digital Archive Provides fulltext and image articles about the University published in the Sydney Morning Herald between 1955-1990

For pre-1975 articles use search phrase ("wollongong university college" OR "wuc")

Truncation symbol: *

Illawarra Index Indexes major articles about the University published in the Illawarra Mercury, Wollongong Advertiser, South Coast Times and other local newspapers from the 1950s+ Use search keywords wollongong and university

Search Tip! Change dropdown menus within fulltext databases to broaden your search from words appearing only in headline or title to words anywhere within full article.

What about browsing older newspaper articles?

You can browse boxes of UOW related news clippings held in the Archives Collection from 1950s+ (note these are filed by year/date and not by subject). Contact Archives to arrange access.

top of page

How do I find journal articles about UOW?

Search Library databases

Library Database Notes Search Tip
A+Education Australian higher education. Many articles fulltext

Use search phrase wollongong %2 uni* (wollongong within 2 words of university or uni) and tick the box to "Also Search Fulltext of Articles" where available

Truncation symbol: *

APAFT Australian current affairs and social sciences. Many articles fulltext Use same tip as above
Informit E-Library Australian. Multidisciplinary. Fulltext Use same tip as above
Academic Onefile International. Multidisciplinary. Many articles fulltext

Use search phrase wollongong n2 university (wollongong within 2 words of university) and change dropdown search field menu to Entire Document (tx)

Truncation symbol: *

Proquest Central International. Multidisciplinary. Many articles fulltext

Use search phrase wollongong w/2 university (wollongong within 2 words of university) and change dropdown search field menu to Citation and Document Text

Truncation symbol: *

Search Tips!

  • You may not find many journal articles specifically about UOW. Be prepared to broaden your search to look for articles discussing Australian universities and the higher education sector in general.
  • If searching for articles about UOW and particular subject disciplines (eg. information technology) also try other subject specific Databases

top of page

Found a reference but it's not fulltext?

Some databases don't provide the fulltext of items, only the citations and brief summaries of the contents. This is especially common when looking for older references.

Use these to locate dates and page numbers for specific articles, then check both the ArticleFinder database portal AND the Library's Classic Catalogue to see if the relevant item is held in the Library.

top of page

How do I find statistics about UOW and other universities?

Search Tip: Before you begin your search for statistics consider:

  • Are statistics likely to be collected on your topic and at the level of detail you need? If so:
    • Who might collect this type of data?
    • Where might they be available?
    • What headings might they be under? (eg. statistics on international students might be listed under overseas enrolments)
On the Web:

UOW only statistics:

  • Summary on UOW website > About the University > Key Statistics
  • Summary student statistics and UOW rankings on UOW website > About the University > Planning & Quality website > Statistics
  • UOW Annual Reports (2004+) on UOW website > About the University > Annual Reports
  • UOW Annual Reports (1975-2003) on Library website > UOW Libraries > Digital Archive
  • UOW Statistics Reports (published 1975-1992 only) on Library website > UOW Libraries > Digital Archive

UOW and other universities statistics:

Higher education sector wide statistics:

  • ABS website > Themes > Education & Training Statistics (note: the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not provide data at individual institution level)
In the Library:
In the Journal Collection: (accessible on Level 2)
  • Good Universities Guide (current year only) held at S 378.94/103
  • Selected Higher Education Statistics (hard copy versions of the publications on the Department of Education website, including older volumes not available online):
In the Archives Collection: (for access ask at Research Help Desk)

Other Search Tips:

Searching for books or reports with comparative data on Wollongong and other universities?

Try Library's Classic Catalogue searches such as:

  • Keyword search > higher education and australia and statistics
  • Keyword search > universities and australia and statistics
  • Keyword search > graduate* and employment and australia

Searching for newspaper or journal articles which mention statistics?

The word 'statistics' may not always be mentioned in the article text. Try searching for related terms.

  • Search on keywords > (statistic* or data or number* or figure*)

top of page

Where can I find UOW handbooks/calendars?

On the Web:

In the Library:

  • 1975+ held in Archives Collection at 378.94405/WOLL/1
  • Pre-1975 WUC/UNSW calendars (with some gaps) held in Archives Collection
  • 1963-1984 Wollongong Teachers' College/Wollongong Institute of Education Calendar held in Archives Collection

top of page

Where can I find student newsletters?

Note: In the call number details below ARC prefix = located in Archives Collection, Ground Level (For access ask at Research Help Desk). For other hardcopy items check the Library's Classic Catalogue for exact location details.

Undergraduate Student Newsletter (Tertangala)
On the Web:
  • Selected issues from recent years available fulltext on WUSA web site > Media > Tertangala
  • List of issue title details 1962+ available on UOW Archives web site > Collections > U Collection > Publications > Tertangala
In the Library:
  • 1960s+ (with some gaps) held in Archives Collection at 378.94405/WOLL/25
  • Small range of other undergraduate publications also held in Archives (eg. Unicentre Student Diaries). Contact Archives for details
Postgraduate Student Newsletter
On the Web: In the Library:
  • Small range of postgraduate publications held in Archives Collection. Contact Archives for details

top of page

What's the best way to search the UOW website?

Use the UOW Advanced site search:

  1. Go to University site search: Advanced search
  2. Check the UOW Web tab is already selected
  3. Type in your keywords or phrases in the Search box (keep your search simple!) eg. childcare (Search tip: Truncation symbol to search for word plurals is a * symbol. eg. child* )
  4. Use the dropdown menu to limit results to relevant areas of the UOW website if desired eg. Unicentre website
  5. Click on the Go button

Or Use a Google Advanced search:

You can limit your search to the UOW website (note: you may get different results compared to the UOW search engine). To do this:

  1. Go to Google Advanced search
  2. Type in your keywords or phrases in the Search box eg. childcare OR "child care" (Search tip: No truncation symbol required to search for word plurals)
  3. Type in the Search within a Site/Domain box the url uow.edu.au
  4. Click on the Google search button

top of page

Additional tips for Soc231 students

For Soc231 (Social Analysis) and other students doing case study research about UOW - see the following assignment help guides for extra tips:

Need further help?

Contact Research Help staff.

Content by Archivist

Last reviewed: 7 September, 2009

       

Library sticky region image

Follow Me Printing

Everyone hates to queue. With this in mind, we have introduced Follow Me Printing. You can choose any free printer/copier in the Library or a printer in the Student Central labs to release your print job.

How does it work?