La Trobe University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell, has shared the University's ambitious strategy for the next five years, following extensive consultation with staff, students and external stakeholders.
La Trobe's Strategic Plan 2025-2030 is sharply focused on fields in which the University is a recognised leader and that will deliver growth – health, science and education. It is underpinned by innovation and an AI-first mindset across both curriculum and research, with an overarching 'skills through equity' lens.
"La Trobe's founding purpose, built around equity, access to higher education and social justice, remains at the heart of who we are as a university and is reflected across our innovative curriculum, our student experience and through our world-leading research that places a strong focus on justice, equity and sustainability," Professor Farrell said.
"Our vision for the next five years and beyond, as outlined in our new Strategic Plan, puts a sharp focus on fields that shape our future and for which La Trobe is recognised and helping drive reform - health, science and education.
"To meet Australia's future skills needs as identified in the Australian Universities Accord, it is critical that low participation rates are raised among Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds, from rural and regional Australia, and among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"As a university with over 40 per cent of our students first in family to go to university and with our regional campus footprint across Victoria, La Trobe is uniquely positioned to help achieve those ambitious targets and deliver the workforce of the future."
La Trobe's Strategic Plan 2025-2030 outlines a clear strategy for growth, focused on areas that include health and education innovation, the development of online and short courses and international growth.
"La Trobe's future will be shaped not only by what we do, but how we do it," Professor Farrell said.
"We believe learning never stops, so we're creating a new suite of online and short courses and upskilling workforces by inspiring lifelong learning.
"Importantly, we are actively embracing emerging technologies, applying an AI-first mindset to everything we do."
Summary: La Trobe University Strategic Plan 2025-2030
The Strategic Plan is underpinned by La Trobe's people, partners, values and culture.
Accelerating Our Growth - highlights:
We will increase revenue by more than a third to over $1.2 billion by 2030.
La Trobe is investing heavily in new teaching facilities and infrastructure across its regional campus network. By 2030, we will increase enrolments at our regional campuses by 60 per cent and will double the number of industry co-located partners, as outlined in the University's Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy 2030.
Health innovation: La Trobe's $170 million investment in health innovation will deliver more than 5000 graduates annually into the health workforce.
Education innovation: La Trobe's School of Education is at the forefront of important changes in teaching practice, including evidence-based approaches to learning, reading and mathematics. By 2030, we will support school transformations at scale to dramatically improve learning outcomes for their students.
By 2030, we will increase enrolments to La Trobe Online by 50 per cent and increase revenue from short courses seven-fold to more than $20 million.
By 2030, La Trobe will pursue an even greater presence in, and engagement with, India, building on our existing association through diverse educational partnerships, pioneering research and industry engagement.
Maximising Our Impact – highlights:
By 2030, we will increase our research income by 60 per cent to $165 million.
Continued investment in flagship research institutes and initiatives including the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF) and the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), building on our areas of research strength.
We will open a new innovation centre on our Bundoora campus to complement the existing Digital Innovation and Bio Innovation Hubs – a core component of La Trobe University City, which is transforming Melbourne's north.
By 2030, every La Trobe student will experience work-integrated learning.
By 2030, we will deliver and build upon the La Trobe Indigenous Strategy 2022-2030.
By 2030, we will have exceeded our 2027 target of $200 million secured in philanthropic funding.
Shaping Our Future – highlights:
La Trobe Professional program will significantly increase and widen the range of short-form credentialed learning experiences and by 2030 we will launch a best-in-sector offer for La Trobe alumni to support their lifelong learning needs.
An AI-first mindset. By 2030, all staff at La Trobe will be accessing and using AI tools routinely and AI will be integrated in all courses to support student learning. We will set industry standards for the responsible use of AI in scientific discovery, knowledge transfer and research commercialisation, learning and teaching.
Read La Trobe's Strategic Plan on our website.
