OUR STORY
​Universal Learning Group (ULG) was established as an education and learning group for the specific purposes of ensuring integrity and quality assurance oversight for the provision and delivery of its Institutes’ vocational education and training programs, professional year program, English language training and Higher education programs.
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ULG aims to deliver quality assured education to cater for domestic and international students. Through our unique teaching and learning experience, our students can expect to have a focused, creative and connected environment. ULG commits itself to creating a supportive work and study environment and an ethos of free intellectual inquiry among students and staff.
​The head office is located in the heart of Melbourne CBD, ULG provides student access to a modern, fully integrated campus over a seven-day week. Teaching is undertaken during the day, evenings and on the weekends to provide the greatest flexibility for students’ learning. ULG, through its subsidiary colleges, provides an extensive array of student service support during the day, evening and weekends as well as at other locations in Australia.
​VISION
​‘Our vision is to be recognised as a quality provider of education, learning and training services in and from Australia.’
To fulfil our vision:
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We adopt stringent academic standards and operate under a robust corporate and academic governance framework.
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We have competent people with the right expertise and creativity to achieve our goals.
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We specialise in fields with strong opportunities for graduates prepared for globally mobile careers.
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We provide shared as well as personal learning experiences that support the individual development of students and challenge them to acquire the skills and knowledge to confidently shape their future.
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We want our students to contribute meaningfully to the global community.
​MISSION
​‘Our mission is to deliver a unique teaching and learning experience that is internationally focused, creative and connected.’
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To achieve our mission:
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We offer innovative learning and education support on campus in Australia.
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We provide the best possible teaching and learning experience for our students that is internationally focused, creative and connected.
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We offer a distinctive set of programs that have strong industry links and we pride ourselves on producing graduates with entrepreneurial flair who have high employability and are specially equipped for international careers and work places of the future.
​VALUES
​We place students at the front and centre of everything we do. They are encouraged and supported to learn, to succeed, to qualify, to connect and to enjoy their time whilst at ULG in Australia.
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Our values are:
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Innovation and excellent teaching and learning
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Academic freedom
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Academic integrity
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Student-centred focus on quality and outcomes
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Collaboration and community
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Respect and inclusion
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Safety and wellbeing
Our charter of values has been defined by the ULG Governance as being integral to the group and are regarded as central to the success of the group and to its reputation in the education and training sector. These values are core to the culture of the organisation. For staff, these values underpin a code of conduct and for students, these represent a framework for expectations and obligations of behaviour. The values which underpin the continued success of the Institute and its reputation for excellence across the education sectors are its innovative and supportive approach to its teaching and learning.
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As an organization, our core values provide academic freedom and integrity to our students to focus on delivering quality outcomes. We value and respect our collaboration with our partners and encourage developing improved partner engagement and productive industry networking. The safety and well-being of our staff members and students is also a priority at our institute.
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The best way to find out exactly what ULG is like is to come and see for yourself.
​BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Professor Dharmendra Sharma (AM)
Chairman
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Professor Sharma is a former Chair of University Academic Board and currently Professor of Computer Science at the University of Canberra (2014-2019). He had been the Dean of the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering from 2007-2012 and as Head of School of the School of Information Sciences and Engineering from 2004-2007. He has assumed various senior leadership roles in universities for over twenty years and had been made a University Distinguished Professor in 2012.
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Prof Sharma’s research background is in the Artificial Intelligence areas of Planning, Data Analytics and Knowledge Discovery, Predictive Modelling, Constraint Processing, Fuzzy Reasoning, Brain-Computer Interaction, Hybrid Systems and their applications to health, education, security, digital forensics and sports. He has published over 310 research papers, and other research and applied articles. He has supervised to completion over 36 higher degrees research students and over 87 Hons and Master’s level projects. He has received several competitive research awards and grants, and recognition for his academic and research leadership initiatives. He has developed and led a strong industry and international university partnerships for courses, research and innovation.
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Prof Sharma has regularly served on several industry, academic, and research bodies including company boards, government advisory and policy committees. He had completed his PhD in AI from ANU and postgraduate qualifications in Computer Science from the University of New South Wales and postgraduate and undergraduate qualifications in Mathematics and Science from USP. He has been an academic for over 40 years.
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Prof Sharma was recognised as part of the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours with the award of Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to computer science and higher education.
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Davina McArthur
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Director
Davina McArthur is currently the Strategy Lead at UNSW helping the university to develop their new ten year strategy.
Through her professional career, Davina developed knowledge and expertise in the areas of strategy, transformation, program design, delivery and evaluation, and social and public policy.
Her career has been built around her deep interest in social impact and change. Each role she has held has involved understanding and enabling social change through improved organisational performance. This has been particularly in education around supporting access and equity.
Prior to joining UNSW, Davina worked for over a decade as a management consultant with Nous Group, an internal management consulting firm; as a social and public policy consultant for AECOM; and as the acting program coordinator for the Indigenous Governance Awards with Reconciliation Australia. She was an advisory board member at the Centre for Media Transition (UTS) from 2017 to 2024.
Davina has a Masters of Law (Government and Commercial Law) and a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce (Political Science and International Business), both from the Australian National University. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr. Rizwan Ahmed
Executive Director
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Rizwan Ahmed has over 20 years broad business management experience which includes 14 years in the private education sector.
His specialist skill areas pertain to all aspects of academic leadership, strategic planning, curriculum and assessment development, efficient administration practices, international marketing and regulatory authority compliance within Universal Institute of Technology, Universal English and Universal Higher Education. Prior to entering the education sector, Rizwan had a proven track record in small business ownership and development in the telecommunications sector across Australia.
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Rizwan’s life goal has always been “to make a difference in the lives of others”. Being in the education sector has allowed him to serve the educational needs of his clients with the aim of helping them to enhance their career options and lead a better lifestyle.
He continues to pursue his passion by establishing and running educational institutions that are committed to excellence in learning and innovation not only in Australia but worldwide.
Rizwan is passionate and devoted to continual education and holds a Masters of Enterprise from University of Melbourne, Graduate Diploma of Information Technology from Swinburne University and Bachelors of Science (Electronics) from Osmania University.
Mr. Mirzan Mansoor
Director
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Mirzan has in excess of 15 years of experience across restructuring and turnaround, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate banking in Australia and in Singapore.
Mirzan is a Chartered Accountant and Registered Liquidator. He has assisted in the provision of advice to numerous companies, ranging from family-owned businesses to large conglomerates, to reset and grow. His key industry specialisations are construction, retail, technology, transport and mining and commodities.
Recently he was involved in advising a multinational group specialising in the commodities, renewable energy, and steel manufacturing sectors with a presence in London, Eastern Europe, India, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.
He also has been pivotal in assisting numerous family-owned businesses utilise the small business restructuring regime to restructure legacy debts and move forward.
Prior to working in restructuring, Mirzan was a corporate banker at a Big 4 bank assisting clients in the middle market with debt finance solutions.
Mirzan holds a bachelor’s degree in business specialising in accounting, a graduate diploma in chartered accounting and an advanced certification in insolvency and restructuring.