This time last year,
I was in Mackay to kick-off the official celebrations to mark the merger between CQUniversity and CQ TAFE. It had taken so much work by so many people
to get to that point; years of negotiation and months of planning, to ensure
everything was ready to go on 1 July, 2014. This time last year there was
certainly a lot of anticipation and excitement in the air (as well as
uncertainty). Now, one year on it's almost as if things were always this way
Overall I don't think the merger could have gone any better, nor our outcomes in the past year been any more successful. Of course we still have our challenges to work through, however, since the merger, I believe that each and every person at CQUniversity has gotten on with the job of making CQUniversity one of Australia's great universities.
With so much happening its sometimes easy to forget about the many achievements of our university, our students, our alumni and our colleagues. Which is why I thought today, the first anniversary of the merger, was the perfect day to provide a brief snapshot of just some of the remarkable achievements witnessed in the past year. I hope these will remind you of why CQUniversity is a great place to be and how we are making a real difference in the many communities we serve.
Expansion in the North and West
In the past year CQUniversity has extended its national presence, opening a study centre and campus in Townsville, and study centres in Charters Towers, Perth and Karratha.
New campuses
As well as the new Townsville campus, we have also just moved into a brand new campus in Melbourne and are currently putting the finishing touches on our new Cairns campus.
Overall I don't think the merger could have gone any better, nor our outcomes in the past year been any more successful. Of course we still have our challenges to work through, however, since the merger, I believe that each and every person at CQUniversity has gotten on with the job of making CQUniversity one of Australia's great universities.
With so much happening its sometimes easy to forget about the many achievements of our university, our students, our alumni and our colleagues. Which is why I thought today, the first anniversary of the merger, was the perfect day to provide a brief snapshot of just some of the remarkable achievements witnessed in the past year. I hope these will remind you of why CQUniversity is a great place to be and how we are making a real difference in the many communities we serve.
Expansion in the North and West
In the past year CQUniversity has extended its national presence, opening a study centre and campus in Townsville, and study centres in Charters Towers, Perth and Karratha.
New campuses
As well as the new Townsville campus, we have also just moved into a brand new campus in Melbourne and are currently putting the finishing touches on our new Cairns campus.
More comprehensive options
The exciting thing
about the merger was that CQUniversity could deliver more study and pathway
programs than ever before. In just the past 12 months 30 new VET courses have
been developed and are being delivered to students in CQ and beyond. Whether
people are starting their careers, changing their careers or adding to their
skills, CQUniversity can deliver like never before.
Health Clinic Stage 2
Stage 2 of the
CQUniversity Health Clinic was completed thanks to funding made available as
part of the merger. The facility now provides a real life setting for health
students to train in and delivers the public with affordable access to
healthcare in the CQ region. 
Teaching Awards
A record number of
awards have been given out in the past year with with the highest ever number
of teachers in the higher education division being recognised for excellence in
learning and teaching. Along with this teachers from the IVTAE division have
also been recognised for excellence at regional and state level training
awards.
Building MackayA $16.6 million
engineering precinct being constructed on the Mackay Ooralea campus will give
both the University and students a huge boost and provide the region with one
of the most cutting edge engineering precincts in Australia. What's more,
Mackay Regional Council has also approved $10 million in funding for Stage 1
and 2 of a new sports precinct at the Ooralea campus. There also also other
exciting capital works projects being undertaken at the Mackay City campus.
A Big Idea
Three CQUniversity
Engineering students with a Big Idea, beat out competitors from Go8
universities to win the national Big Idea comeptition that promotes social
innovation. This achievement was made even more remarkable because this was the
first time a team from CQUniversity entered the competition. The team's winning
entry was based on emergency shelter houses made out of recyclable wooden
pallets.
Beef Week
This year
CQUniversity was a major supporting partner of Beef Australia 2015, which is
one of the most important events on the global Beef Industry calendar. As well
as promoting our credentials as a leading agricultural research university the
event also delivered valuable opportunities for branding, engagement, student
recruitment and publicity.
Cyclone Recovery
Cyclone Marcia closed
campuses across central Queensland and caused damage to both Rockhampton
campuses but with the help of a large group of student and staff volunteers,
both sites were back up and running, business-as-usual within a week.
Giving Back
One of CQUniversity's
pillars of greatness is giving back and with so many great staff and students,
this concept is easily achieved. Just this year CQUniversity has contributed
almost $40,000 to Rotary, with these funds being directed to disaster relief in
Vanuatu and Nepal.
EDNA IICQUniversity's brand
new engagement database was launched this year and already has more than 500
entries! This new database will allow us to record important internal and
external engagement interactions and showcase why we are Australia's most
engaged university.
Indigenous Engagement
The University's
Office of Indigenous Engagement continues to deliver great outcomes thanks to
the programs they run and the engagement work they carry out in the communities
we serve. Important activities include the AIME mentoring program and delivering
support to our Indigenous students across Australia. In fact this year we will
have more Indigenous students graduate than ever before.
CQUniverse Campaign
A brand new marketing campaign was launched last year
to promote the countless study and pathway options available at CQUniversity,
right across Australia. The campaign has been one of the University's most
successful to date with record domestic undergraduate growth and our biggest
ever STEPS cohort joining the University this year.
Research
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From significant
research grants, new research opportunities and engagement, recognition and
accolades for our research staff, and the delivery of research that is
relevant to communities and industry, there really should be a whole broadcast
just dedicated to our research highlights since the merger! Because of this
CQUniversity is fast emerging as one of Australia's great research
universities.
New Research Institute and Centres
From significant
research grants, new research opportunities and engagement, recognition and
accolades for our research staff, and the delivery of research that is
relevant to communities and industry, there really should be a whole broadcast
just dedicated to our research highlights since the merger! Because of this
CQUniversity is fast emerging as one of Australia's great research
universities.
Cairns Taipans Sponsorship
CQUniversity last
year announced that it would become the naming rights sponsor of the Cairns
Taipans NBL team. The team went on to become runners up in the competition and
the sponsorship delivered countless engagement opportunities in Cairns and
beyond. The sponsorship also provides CQUniversity with opportunity to profile
its brand across Australia and New Zealand.
HEPP Projects
In 2015, CQUniversity
announced funding for 21 projects aimed at raising university aspirations among
disadvantaged students. The funding worth $5.1 million is part of the
Commonwealth’s Higher Education Participation Program (HEPP). Projects funded
under this initiative will span the entire student journey, including raising
aspirations of high school students (and their capacity to succeed), and
providing targeted support services during the study journey. The projects
will also help to connect students with industry and secure employment
opportunities.
First Geraldton Graduation
Earlier this year
CQUniversity celebrated the graduations of the first cohort of students to
study with CQUni through the Geraldton Universities Centre.
April Fools
A story about 'Mooobile
Wi-Fi' using cattle ear tags to boost Wi-Fi signals in the bush turned out to
be a spoof but it succeeded due to an element of truth and shined a light on
the many serious agricultural research projects being carried out at
CQUniversity. The story reached more than 1 million people across the globe and
was named as one of Australia's best April Fools jokes by The Guardian
Australia, Crikey and The Daily Telegraph.
Keeping CQUni Safe
The University has
this year introduced new mechanisms to keep our staff, students and visitors
safe and to more effectively communicate during emergency situations. The
SafeZone App allows users to call for help and also sends notices and alerts in
the event of emergency.
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