UTS will be the first university in Australia to offer a subject specifically on reconciliation, according to its developers.

Heidi Norman, a lecturer in the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Senior Lecturer Penny O'Donnell are responsible for developing the subject, which will be offered to all UTS students in 2002.

"This is a new wave in Indigenous studies. Reconciliation is not only about the identity of Indigenous people in Australia, it's about the Australian national identity," Ms Norman said.

"This subject will prepare students in all disciplines to play a role in the debate, and to explore the issues in their own professional environments," she said.

According to Ms O'Donnell, students see themselves as global citizens, and want to participate as members of a community exploring identity and diversity.

"They walked across the Harbour Bridge for reconciliation. Now this subject takes that feel-good energy and moves it on to explore what we can do now, and where students, as young professionals, have opportunities to participate," she said.

Reconciliation studies will be delivered in four nine-hour blocks on Friday afternoons and Saturdays to allow overnight and day field trips to explore significant Indigenous cultural sites around the Sydney area and further afield.

While the subject is being developed in consultation with staff in all faculties, it will be based in the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning.

See the full story in UTS News online.