Thursday, June 30, 2011

Noosa Noosa Noosa

This has been quite a week for our Noosa Campus. On Tuesday we had a wonderful graduation - with 85 students graduating including two with PhDs. We have also more than doubled the space we have on the Noosa campus and announced that Professor Kevin Tickle will be the Head of that campus. Kevin showed me round the new space and outlined his plans for making best use of the new facilities. We will be offering far more programs on the Noosa campus including some in cooperation with the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE. We have plans to base more researchers in Noosa and to open more laboratories.

I was very pleased to meet with many people from the Noosa community. They are very supportive of what we are doing and want us to move forward with all possible speed. Our staff in Noosa are as always are VERY enthusiastic and I think that the new commitment to Noosa has given them a shot in the arm. I think that Noosa is another example of how CQUniversity is going from strength to strength.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Taking the car for a wash

It has now been a week since I got back from holiday. It seems a lot longer! I thought I would post this video of me taking the car for a wash. We travelled the tip of Cape York via the Old Telegraph Track. It was a great trip which was a good chance to learn more about Queensland history. We also took the opportunity to visit Lockhart River and acquire some more fantastic Aboriginal art.




But all that seems a long time ago now. Since then we have had the Senior Leadership Conference and I am off to the Noosa Graduation today. On reflection the challenges we face as a University are even more exciting than those crossing that river!

Monday, June 27, 2011

A University for all



CQUniversity is Australia’s most inclusive university. The University has more students from low socio economic backgrounds than any other university in Australia. We are proud to have over three times the number of indigenous students than the national average. Students attend the University from 51 countries across the world.


From next year we will be a dual sector university offering opportunities for students undertaking Vocational Education and Training.


We also want to engage with all communities in our region. I think this picture sums up our welcoming approach. It shows Anita and I with one of our fantastic staff Gemma and her partner. Gemma was one of the organisers of the recent Central Queensland Fair Day. This was an event aimed mainly at our Gay and Lesbian Community. You will also see from our shirts that we had just come from the relay for life also held on campus on the same day. CQUniversity welcomes all communities be them cancer survivors, sporting teams or our Gay and Lesbian Community. ALL are welcome at this University.