Griffith University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Griffith University

Motto	Make it matter
Type	Public research university
Established	30 December 1971; 53 years ago (1971-12-30)
Accreditation	TEQSA
Academic affiliations	Utrecht Network (AEN) IRU ACU ASAIHL AACSB AIPS AMC ACS CPA EA GRLI CILECT OUA UA
Budget	A$1 billion (2022)
Chancellor	Andrew Fraser
Vice-Chancellor	Carolyn Evans
Total staff	4,642 (2023)
Students	44,427 (2023)
Undergraduates	30,924 bachelor (2023)
Postgraduates	8,442 coursework (2023) 1,931 research (2023) 2,104 other (2023)
Other students	1,026 (2023)
Location	Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane , Queensland , Australia
Campus	Urban, parkland and regional with multiple sites
Named after	Sir Samuel Griffith
Colours	Red
Sporting affiliations	UniSport EAEN

Griffith University is a large public university located in South East Queensland, on Australia's east coast. It was started in 1971 and officially opened its doors in 1975. Griffith University was the first in Australia to offer degrees in environmental science and Asian Studies.

The university has five main campuses. These are found in Gold Coast, Nathan, Logan, South Bank, and Mount Gravatt. The university is named after Sir Samuel Walker Griffith. He was an important figure in Australian history, serving twice as the Premier of Queensland and becoming the first Chief Justice of Australia's highest court. Sir Samuel Griffith also helped write the Australian constitution.

Griffith University offers many different study programs. Students can choose from bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and research programs. These cover subjects like business, law, science, health, education, engineering, and the arts.

When it first opened, Griffith University had just one campus in Nathan with 451 students. Now, it has grown to five campuses across three cities. The biggest campuses are the Gold Coast campus in Southport and the Nathan campus in Brisbane. The Mount Gravatt and South Bank campuses are also in Brisbane, while the Logan campus is in Meadowbrook.

Today, Griffith University has about 50,000 students from over 130 countries. It is known for its green campuses and is part of the IRU group. A survey in 2021 showed that Griffith University had the ninth-highest student satisfaction among all Australian universities. Since 2012, it has also won more teaching awards than any other Australian university.

Discovering Griffith University's Past

How Griffith University Began

In 1965, a large area of natural bushland (about 174 hectares) in Nathan was set aside for a new university. At first, it was planned to be part of the University of Queensland. However, by 1970, the idea of a brand new university was being discussed. Theodor Bray was asked by the Queensland Government to help create this new university for Brisbane.

On September 30, 1971, the Queensland Government officially created Griffith University. On March 5, 1975, Griffith University welcomed its first 451 students. They studied in four main areas: Australian Environmental Studies, Humanities, Modern Asian Studies, and Science. The university was special because it focused on solving real-world "problems" rather than just teaching separate subjects.

Growing and Expanding Campuses

In the 1990s, big changes happened in Australian education. Many colleges and universities joined together. In 1990, the Mount Gravatt Teacher's College and the Gold Coast College of Advanced Education became official campuses of Griffith University. They are still in the same locations today.

The Queensland Conservatorium of Music also joined Griffith University in 1991. It had been around since 1957. In 1992, the Queensland College of Art (QCA) became part of the university. The QCA was founded in 1881 and is Australia's oldest art training school that has been open continuously.

Griffith's fifth campus, Logan, opened in 1998. It was built in Meadowbrook, south of Brisbane. The Logan campus was created to meet the specific needs of the Logan City area.

Griffith University was also an official partner for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Over 500 students and staff helped plan and run this big event.

Exploring Griffith University Campuses

Griffith University's campuses are special because they are surrounded by nature, even though they are in cities.

Library at the Griffith University Gold Coast campus.

Griffith University (Nathan campus) from Stadium Path

Gold Coast Campus: Griffith's Largest Campus

The Gold Coast campus is in Southport. It is built on the traditional lands of the Aboriginal Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples. This campus is the largest for Griffith University, with over 19,000 students from Australia and around the world.

The Gold Coast campus has grown a lot recently. The Griffith Health Centre and the nearby Gold Coast University Hospital opened in 2013. The Griffith Business School building opened in 2014. The campus is easy to get to, with two light rail stations and many bus routes.

Logan Campus: Community Focused Learning

Logan is Griffith University's campus that focuses on the local community. About 2,000 students study here. The campus offers degrees in human services, social work, nursing, midwifery, business, commerce, and education. The campus works closely with the local community and hosts many sports and cultural events.

Nathan Campus: The Original Griffith Site

Nathan is Griffith's first campus. It is located next to Toohey Forest, about 10 kilometers from Brisbane's city center. Nathan has over 13,000 students. They can study business, government, engineering, information technology, environment, humanities, languages, law, science, and aviation.

The buildings at Nathan campus were designed to blend in with nature. They follow the shape of the land and use natural ways to stay cool. The library building even won an award for its design. Walking paths connect all the buildings, sports areas, and bushland reserves. The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre, a very eco-friendly building, opened here in 2013. It uses solar power and hydrogen to run itself.

The campus also has two places for students to live and many sports facilities.

Mount Gravatt Campus: Social Sciences Hub

Queensland Conservatorium of Music

The Mount Gravatt campus is right next to the Nathan campus. It has 4,400 students. This campus is the main place for social sciences and humanities studies. It is also where important research into social issues, like education, takes place.

This campus is also on the edge of Toohey Forest. It has a fitness center with a heated pool, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, a large tennis center, a training oval, and courts for basketball and netball. Students can also live on campus here.

South Bank Campus: Brisbane's Creative Heart

The South Bank campus is in Brisbane's cultural area. It is Griffith University's creative hub. This campus is home to Griffith's Queensland College of Art, Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith Film School, and Griffith Graduate Centre. Around 3,400 students study at these four places.

How Griffith University is Organized

Griffith University is divided into four main academic groups. These groups offer teaching through various schools, colleges, and departments.

Arts, Education, and Law

• School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
• School of Education and Professional Studies
• School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science
• Griffith Law School
• Queensland College of Art
• Griffith Film School
• Queensland Conservatorium

Griffith Business School

• Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics
• Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources
• Department of Business Strategy and Innovation
• Department of Marketing
• Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management
• School of Government and International Relations

Griffith Health

• School of Applied Psychology
• School of Health Sciences and Social Work
• School of Medicine and Dentistry
• School of Nursing and Midwifery
• School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

Griffith Sciences

• School of Engineering and Built Environment
• School of Environment and Science
• School of Information and Communication Technology

Griffith University's Academic Achievements

University Rankings and Recognition

In Australia, Griffith University ranks 18th out of 37 universities as of 2022. Globally, Griffith is among the top 300 universities in three major world rankings: QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and University Rankings by Academic Performance.

Griffith also ranks highly among newer universities. It was 33rd in the 2021 QS University Rankings for universities under 50 years old. It was also 35th in the 2024 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.

Griffith has several subjects that rank very high globally, according to the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022:

Top 10 Worldwide

• Hospitality and Tourism Management (3rd globally, 1st in Australia)
• Nursing and Midwifery (2nd globally, 1st in Australia)

Top 40–100 Worldwide

• Computer Science and Engineering
• Dentistry and Oral Sciences (2nd in Australia)
• Education
• Energy Science and Engineering
• Law (1st in Australia)
• Marine/Ocean Engineering (3rd in Australia)
• Water Resources

Top 101–150 Worldwide

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Science and Engineering
• Geography
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
• Public Administration

In 2018, research at Griffith was rated "well above world standard" in 24 areas. These included chemical sciences, dentistry, political science, and technology.

Griffith's MBA Program

The Griffith MBA program is highly rated. CEO Magazine ranked it among Australia's top MBA programs in 2022. It was placed fourth in the top tier of Australian programs. It also made it into the magazine's top 20 Global MBA Rankings.

The Griffith MBA is also the highest-ranking Australian MBA in the Aspen Institute's Beyond Grey Pinstripes Global Top 100, at number 26. This was for its focus on responsible leadership and sustainable business practices. It was also ranked fifth in Australia in the 2019 Financial Review BOSS Magazine MBA Survey.

Awards for Teaching Excellence

Griffith University has won many national teaching awards in Australia. Since 2012, Griffith has received 10 awards for Teaching Excellence. It also won 7 awards for Programs that Improve Learning. Plus, 46 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning and 7 National Teaching Fellowships. Three Griffith staff members have even been named the Prime Minister's Australian Teacher of the Year.

Important Research at Griffith

Griffith researchers work in 38 centers and institutes. They study important topics like water science, climate change adaptation, preventing crime, sustainable tourism, and health issues.

The university's main research institutes include:

• Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Institute (ADaPT)
• Australian Rivers Institute
• Cities Research Institute
• Environmental Futures Research Institute
• Griffith Asia Institute
• Griffith Criminology Institute
• Griffith Institute for Educational Research
• Griffith Institute for Tourism
• Institute for Glycomics
• Institute for Integrated and Intelligent Systems
• Menzies Health Institute Queensland
• Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD)

Griffith also hosts other centers that get outside support, such as:

• National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
• Smart Water Research Centre
• NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing

Research That Helps Businesses

Griffith offers research services to businesses, industries, and governments through Griffith Enterprise. This helps turn new ideas into real-world solutions.

Other Special Centers

Besides research centers, Griffith has cultural and community groups. The EcoCentre teaches about the environment. The Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue helps people from different backgrounds connect.

Cool Discoveries from Griffith Research

In 2021, a research team from Griffith University discovered a new type of tree frog in New Guinea. It is often called the "chocolate frog" because of its color.

Student Life at Griffith University

Student Groups and Clubs

Groups at Nathan, Logan, Southbank, and Mt Gravatt Campuses

Griffith University has many different groups for students. These include cultural, academic, sports, and social clubs. On the Nathan campus, Campus Life helps support many clubs and societies, including political and religious groups. The Griffith University Student Representative Council (GUSRC) speaks for undergraduate students. The Griffith University Postgraduate Students Association (GUPSA) represents postgraduate students on all campuses except the Gold Coast.

Student Life at Gold Coast Campus

Students at the Gold Coast campus are represented by elected board members of the Student Guild. The Student Guild staff helps manage clubs and societies. They also assist students with academic issues, financial questions, legal advice, and general well-being. The Student Guild Board is a group of elected students who represent all Gold Coast students. The Gold Coast Association of Postgraduates (GCAP) represents postgraduate students there.

Student Academy of Excellence

The Student Academy of Excellence helps high-achieving students. It offers chances to get mentors, have international experiences, take on leadership roles, and get involved in the community.

Griffith Sports College: Supporting Athletes

Students who are elite athletes can join the Griffith Sports College. This college helps them balance their sports training with their university studies. The Griffith Sports College supports these athletes to do well in both sports and academics. Many famous athletes have come from Griffith, including 82 Olympians, 13 Paralympians, and many Commonwealth Games athletes like Emma McKeon, Madison de Rozario, Cameron McEvoy, and Ashleigh Gentle.

UniSport Nationals: Competing in Sports

Griffith University's Beach Volleyball Team at the UniSport Nationals 2023 held on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Griffith University takes part in Australia's biggest yearly multi-sport event. In this event, 42 universities compete in 31 different sports. Griffith Sport helps student leaders manage their sports teams. Sports clubs are important for students to join these national competitions. Taking part in these events is a fun and rewarding experience that helps students feel proud of their university.

GUMURRII Student Support Unit: For Indigenous Students

The GUMURRII Student Support Unit (SSU) is a special place for Griffith's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. It has offices on all five campuses. GUMURRII staff help students from when they first apply, through orientation, during their studies, and even after they graduate.

Griffith College: A Pathway to University

Griffith College is located on Griffith University's Mount Gravatt and Gold Coast campuses. It offers diploma programs that can help students get into many of Griffith's degree programs.

Griffith English Language Institute: Learning English

Students from countries where English is not the main language can study English at the Griffith English Language Institute (GELI). They offer many English courses to help students improve their English for work, travel, study, or daily life.

Places to Live: Residential Colleges

Kinaba, KGBC colleges, Griffith University Nathan campus

Griffith University has four residential colleges where students can live. Two are on the Nathan campus, one on the Mt Gravatt campus, and one on the Gold Coast campus. The three colleges in Brisbane compete in the Inter-College Cup (ICC) sports events. The biggest event of the ICC is the Phar Cup, where male and female teams play rugby league against each other. The colleges are:

• Bellenden Ker College, also known as BK, is for both male and female students. It is on the Nathan Campus in the Toohey forest reserve.
• KGBC, also called "The Flats", has four apartment buildings for both undergraduate and postgraduate students on the Nathan Campus.
• Mt Gravatt College, also known as MG, is for both male and female students. It is on the Mt Gravatt Campus, which is on the hill the nearby suburbs are named after.
• Griffith University Village is a group of apartments for both male and female students on the Gold Coast Campus.

Notable People from Griffith University

Griffith University has over 200,000 former students. Many of them have become well-known journalists, musicians, actors, artists, filmmakers, photographers, athletes, activists, and politicians in Australia.

See also

• List of universities in Australia