You can search for courses, events, people, and anything else.
The next generation of global citizens, leaders and innovators
Academy U is a four-year program providing unique challenges and learning opportunities for high potential students to grow their competencies in areas such as leadership, community impact and critical thinking, preparing them to become Western’s next generation of global citizens, leaders and innovators.
Year 9
Students and their families will begin their Academy U journey with a celebratory Welcome Ceremony, after which students will receive exclusive access to key Academy U online learning modules through Western Edge. These learning modules have been specifically designed to develop strong essential skills and knowledge for success. Building on these modules, students will participate in an on-campus challenge and innovation day where they will put their newly learned skills into practice whilst exploring a Western campus.
Year 10
Students will develop and refine their problem solving and critical thinking skills through the Western Edge platform. Working in groups with other likeminded students in the Academy U program, students will turn their focus to real-world problems and participate in an industry led Sustainable Futures Hackathon. They will tackle some of the key targets within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, by engaging in critical discussions, collaborating with peers, researching concepts and pitching their solution to a panel of experts.
Year 11
Drawing from the industry leading Bachelor of Creative Leadership and delivered in conjunction with academics from The Academy, Western’s institute for high-potential tertiary students, Academy U learners will become Western Sydney University students completing the first-year university subject ‘Leadership in Complexity’.
Leadership in Complexity focuses on theories and traits of different leadership styles in cross-disciplinary environments and their application in various contexts. Leadership is examined through multidisciplinary lenses thereby broadening students’ perspectives of leadership and encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and action as emergent creative leaders.
Studying Leadership in Complexity provides students with a realistic experience of tertiary learning, where they are fully immersed into Western Sydney University as a student with access to systems and resources like all university students. This university learning experience will improve students transition to university, increasing their confidence in the university environment and in turn their success in their degree.
Leadership in Complexity sees 150 students across 15 high schools in Western Sydney study at the Parramatta Campus during Terms 1 and 2 of Year 11. Leadership in Complexity is accredited through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) as a University Developed Board Endorsed Course (UDBEC). This allows students to attribute the university subject to their pattern of study and have the university learning appear on their HSC Record of Achievement.
Successful completion, with a pass or above, will provide students an early conditional offer to study at Western and award academic credit for the subject upon transition to Western. Students who successfully complete Leadership in Complexity will also be invited to apply for our exclusive Academy U scholarships, the Academy U Excellence and Academy U Engagement Scholarship.
Year 12
Academy U students completing their Year 12 studies will have the opportunity to attend the Future Student Engagement Year 12 Conference, a signature information and networking event. With over 35 area of study sessions to select from, students will leave feeling confident and excited about their future study prospects.
The Academy U team will visit students in-school for 1:1 career and future study consultations, providing personalised support as they begin planning their transition to university.
Finally, we look forward to joining with our Academy U community and celebrating student achievements at our Graduation Ceremony.
Getting Involved
If your high school would like to become involved in the Academy U program, or you would like more information about Academy U, please complete the Expression of Interest form below.
