Curtin University

Curtin University is an Australian university with campuses in Australia, Malaysia, Singaport, Mauritius and Dubai. Curtin is known for its high-impact research, strong industry partnerships, and commitment to preparing students for their futures. Curtin is ranked in the top 1 percent of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Curtin is named for John Curtin, Australia's fourteenth prime minister, in 1941 during World War II. As the only prime minister to represent a Western Australian seat in the House of Representatives, Curtin led his country through extremely difficult times, which eventually took a toll on his personal health. Today, he is regarded as one of Australia's most successful leaders.

In May 1900, the Perth Technical School, later named Pertch Technical College in 1929, was established in Perth city center. Classes began in the Old Perth Boys School building at 139 St. George's Terrace and expanded in 1909. Perth Technical College offered voluntary classes for trade apprentices and others possessing an occupational qualification. The school provided courses under license from the University of Adelaide until the University of Western Australia was established in 1914.

By 1943, because of the Great Depression, there were staffing and overcrowding issues, so technical training dramatically increased in the post-war era. Thus, in 1956, the idea for the Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) was born. The key drivers of WAIT were Dr. Thomas Logan Robertson, George Hayman, and Dr. Haydn Stanley Williams. Williams was the inaugural WAIT director from 1967 to 1979 and grew the enrollment from approximately 3,000 students to 12,000.

Since the mid-1900s, Curtin has transformed from the Old Perth Boys School into a contemporary hub for industry, community, and alumni engagement in the heart of Perth CBD. By 2018, Curtin began transforming the former Perth Technical College building into a modern learning space, offering a convenient city location for its professional learning and continuing education programs, including some postgraduate programs.