About Us

The University of Western Sydney will take a leading role in improving small business performance through SMExcellence. SMExcellence is a free online interactive learning platform that improves the business skills of small business owner?managers.

SMExcellence distinctively positions UWS and its partners as key contributors to the small business community, a business group that has not been comprehensively addressed by Australian universities. Customised tutorials will be targeted to specific industry sectors, such as construction, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, business and personal services. Tutorials will reflect the Australian Quality National Training Framework and support the Financial Literacy Foundation's national agenda.

One of our partners comments ...

"The finance and insurance industry plays a significant role in the Australian economy, contributing an estimated $78.5 billion (7.9%) to economic activity in 2007. The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA), representing banks in Australia, sees an ideal opportunity for contributing further to Australia's prosperity by enhancing the performance and growth of the small business community, which already generates 30% of Australia's economic activity. The ABA is committed to the national goal of improving Australian's financial literacy, and one initiative is by partnering with UWS in the development of SMExcellence. SMExcellence offers small business owners and managers valuable skills and knowledge that can be used to improve productivity, performance and long-term sustainability."

David Bell
Chief Executive, Australian Bankers' Association

What about a SME using our services?

"As a manufacturing firm in Greater Western Sydney with 35 staff, we face increasing pressures from global competition. AIPS must constantly improve its performance in order to remain market leaders, with management training an integral part of our continuous improvement strategy. SMExcellence offers small business owners valuable skills at a time and place of their convenience. Through SMExcellence, UWS is taking a leading role in the small business community."

Martyn Bell
Owner-Manager, All Industry Packaging Solutions

Together with UWS academics, final year undergraduate students will build the software and develop the content as part of their course work. Overseen by university academics and industry partners, students will learn-by-doing through an experiential pedagogy where they are required to apply theory-to-practice.

And the content provider?

"I was fortunate to work on SMExcellence as a computer programmer in my final year at UWS. Working on the project allowed me to apply the theory learnt at university to a real live project. Despite SMExcellence's challenges, the project was personally and professionally satisfying as I developed new skills and knowledge. Working in a team environment improved my inter-personal communication skills and taught me valuable lessons in project management. My experience gave me the opportunity of full-time work in the computer industry."

Nabil Mansour
Final-Year Student, University of Western Sydney

Where to from here?

While SMExcellence.com.au website is now live, we continue to rapidly build content and functionality. The first content modules have focussed on finance, with soon to be released complementary modules on marketing, law, operations management and human resources. We are actively seeking to expand our industry alliances, partnerships and distribution networks.

How do I get involved?

To participate in or contribute to this exciting initiative, please contact:

Dr Geoffrey Lee
College of Business, University of Western Sydney

Phone: 02 9685 9462

Email: g.lee@uws.edu.au