ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app

February 27, 2025

O-Week kicks off at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool as campus introduces new degrees

New Primary Education and Law-Criminology degrees launched to address Western Sydney workforce needs

The University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app's Liverpool campus welcomed new students with a full day of activities designed to introduce them to university life and set them up for academic success.

The event featured a diverse program including peer connection sessions, campus tours, and faculty-specific information sessions for students across all disciplines.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health - Sydney Campuses) Professor Louise Hickman said events like O-Week complement the partnership with the Liverpool Innovation Precinct that aim to meet the workforce needs of the region.

"We're committed to meeting the educational needs of the Liverpool community,” Professor Hickman said.

“Through our partnership with the Liverpool Innovation Precinct we have been able to deliver two new courses in Liverpool to meet the needs of the region, creating job-ready graduates who can contribute to the region's economic development. This initiative not only supports local students but also strengthens the economic and social fabric of Western Sydney.”

Among the new students attending orientation will be the first cohort of 25 Bachelor of Primary Education students, marking a significant milestone as ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool offers this degree for the first time in 2025.

First-year Primary Education student Effimia Rouki, who emigrated to Australia from Greece as a young child, said it was a former teacher who inspired her to pursue a teaching career.

_{Effimia Rouki at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool O Week}

"When I came here I was in primary school with zero knowledge of English and I had one of the best teachers there. She really inspired me to get into education,” Effimia said.

"I chose ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool because it is very close to where I live, but I also heard a lot of great things regarding work experience and how it starts in the second year, which is very early in the course. I heard a lot of good things about being a teacher in Australia and opportunities. I'm excited about that."

She said that the O-Week event was a great introduction to university life.

"It was great. Everybody is so friendly and honestly, I was kind of expecting that because I am going into teaching and in order to be around kids, you’ve got to be positive."

"I was a bit scared too, but that's natural. I did manage to make friends and they're all very sweet."

Professor Hickman said the introduction of the Primary Education degree directly addresses the critical teacher shortage in Western Sydney by providing local students with opportunities to study close to home.

"By offering the first Primary Education degree in Liverpool, we're creating pathways for local students to become qualified teachers who can serve their community. This builds on our successful model of addressing workforce shortages, as we've done previously with our nursing programs in the region,” she said.

In addition to the Primary Education degree, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool has also launched a Bachelor of Laws – Bachelor of Criminology double degree for 2025, expanding opportunities for students interested in legal studies and criminal justice.

_{Associate Professor Niamh Kinchin with first-year Bachelor of Laws -Bachelor of Criminology students}

The expansion of program offerings comes amid significant growth for ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool, with domestic student commencements increasing by over 62 per cent in the past three years. More than 1,400 domestic students applied to the Liverpool campus this year alone—a 57 per cent increase from last year.

To accommodate this growth, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool will relocate to the new Liverpool Civic Place in 2026, providing state-of-the-art facilities for the expanding student population.

Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun said: "The introduction of new degrees at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool, such as the Primary Education and Law-Criminology programs, is a significant milestone for our community. These courses will not only provide local students with valuable educational opportunities but also address critical workforce needs in Western Sydney.

“By expanding access to higher education, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app is fostering economic growth, creating job opportunities, and supporting the development of a vibrant, diverse community. This aligns perfectly with our University City program, which aims to make Liverpool a hub of educational excellence.

“It's fantastic that students in Liverpool can study world-class degrees close to home, making higher education more accessible and convenient. We are excited to see the positive impact these new programs will have on Liverpool."

Liverpool Innovation Precinct Chair David Borger said the expansion of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app offerings in Liverpool demonstrated real investment in the community, delivering better local pathways for students to study and build careers close to home. 

“The Liverpool Innovation Precinct is working with our partners in health, education and local government to strengthen Liverpool as a true knowledge city—where education, business, and health innovation intersect to drive long-term economic growth,” Mr Borger said.

“This is about creating real opportunities for local students while tackling critical workforce shortages that impact our schools, courts, and communities. 

“Liverpool is at the heart of Western Sydney’s future workforce so the addition of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app’s Primary Education and Law-Criminology degrees ensures that we are training the next generation of teachers and legal professionals right here in the Liverpool CBD. 

“With the rapid growth of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app Liverpool and its upcoming move to Liverpool Civic Place, we are witnessing a major transformation in our city’s education and business landscape. 

“State-of-the-art facilities, combined with strong industry partnerships, will cement Liverpool’s reputation as an innovation precinct that attracts talent and investment in health, education, and business that will drive the next wave of growth for Western Sydney.”