On the 1st August 2008, the Central Queenland University's Gladstone campus celebrated its thirtieth birthday. That represents a very considerable time period in bringing quality education to the Gladstone district. Starting as the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education on a site in Dawson Rd, the university now boasts one of the finest positions of any campus in the nation - right on the waterfront on the Gladstone Harbour. Our front cover photo shows Head of Campus, Dr Pierre Viljoen (right) with the Central Queensland University Vice Chancellor, Professor John Rickard. They are unveiling the new Central Queensland University logo, which represents the international knowledge base by adding our country's name. The new logo concept of CQUniversity Australia will sit especially well with the campus in Gladstone, which is, of course, The Port City to the World.
The 30th event included awards for David Manttan and Tony Goodwin, in appreciation of their dedication, support and contribution to the Gladstone Advisory Committee over an extended period of time. David Manttan is the Executive Director for Education Queensland. Tony Goodwin is well known local Gladstone solicitor.
Offered internally are Bachelor of Learning Management Primary, Early Childhood and Secondary. The first 2 years of the Bachelor of Engineering, the First year of the Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Accounting, the Graduate Diploma of Maintenance Management are offered through a combination of internal and external resources. Dr Pierre Viljoen relishes the university role in the Gladstone community with " - research programs, hosting conferences and seminars, providing and hosting training sessions for people employed in business and industry..."
As well as studying in Gladstone, students have the opportunity of doing some of their degrees at the sister campuses at Brisbane, Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Mackay, Melbourne, Noosa, Rockhampton, Sydney, at the Conservatorium of Music, and with exchange universities overseas in Europe and America. James Keane won a scholarship for the School of Management at Dortmund Germany.
Every year the university has many functions interacting with the Gladstone community and some of their researchers create new technology for this industrial city:
More than one hundred industry representatives from around Australia converged on CQUniversity Gladstone's Rex Metcalfe Theatre to attend the Gladstone Engineering Alliance industry conference during October. The conference provided an opportunity for relationship building between the supply chain and local industry, as well as showcasing the capability of the Gladstone region.
A free talk by Dr Brendan Humphries was provided by video-conferencing link about the benefits of vibration training for health, strength and sports performance, as well as future trends in its use.
Experts Ross Campbell and Dave Arden bought their expertise in industrial crisis management to Gladstone to assist the development of courses at the university. While oil spills and industrial accidents rarely occur, major industrial cities must have plans and expertise ready. Dr Pierre Viljoen, head of the university campus, said "We aim to be a prominent future force in providing targeted Professional Education in a variety of areas to the local community, businesses and industry.We will support this effort by utilising the existing CQUniversity skills base as well as external experts like Ross where appropriate," he said.
The Gladstone business community often tutors the students in real life business situations, with such events as a half-day property conference addressed by Peter Mogg, General Manager Capricornia Credit Union Ltd, Darren Smith, Kennas Tax & Business Advisors Rockhampton, Professor Terry Boyd CQUniverity, Ian Clarkson, Taylor Byrne Valuers. This included sessions on 'The Property Market and Local Impacting Factors' and 'Interacting With Other Professions - The Use of Valuations'
The Gladstone Region Women's Business Network Inc. is an association which offers support, inspiration, advice and assistance to women in business. With the backing of the university, guest speakers have included people of the calibre of Carolyn Barker, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Management - Qld & NT.
Pictured (Left to Right) is Carolyn Barker from Australian Institute of Management; Liz Cunningham, State Member for Gladstone; Maxine Brushe, Chairperson Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd; and Joanne Ballard, President Gladstone Region Women's Business Network.
As well as dealing with young adults as students, this university takes community life to a whole extra level with workshops for Gladstone parents 'getting back into study while being a parent' especially parents who are planning to resume a career. Advice also covers how to juggle part-time studies with a busy family life.
In May-June each year, the university's Bachelor of Learning Management students host 'Romp in the Park' or an Artshow to celebrate 'Under Eights' Week.
Researchers from CQU's Centre for Environmental Management have developed a 4WD Code of Practice in conjunction with 4WD vehicle users to help protect key species using beaches, such as nesting shorebirds and turtles.
Some of the university staff are recognized as leaders in their fields. Some of the 2008 awards include:
The CQUniversity researcher Dr Ashley Bunce was awarded with a Natural Resource Management Mentor Award from the Burnett Mary Regional Group's Natural Resource Management Awards, for his work as Deputy Director/Marine Ecology Program Leader for the Centre for Environmental Management.
World-class research in 'maintenance management performance' by Gladstone researcher Associate Professor Gopinath Chattopadhyay is a boon for the port-city, which relies more than most on well-maintained industries. His paper won him the "Outstanding Paper Award" from the publishing house of the Emerald Literati Network. As well as being Director of Engineering Postgraduate Studies and Associate Professor in Industrial Asset Management at CQUniversity Gladstone, he has been published more than one hundred times in international journals and conference papers.
Gladstone Pacific Nickel Ltd has jointly sponsored the Central Queensland University "Co-Funded Industry Scholarship". This first recipient is Amie Anastasi, for her research paper called 'Trace Metal Dynamics in Port Curtis, Queensland'. This award provides the recipient with a $30,000 per annum scholarship ($15,000 is funded by GPN and a similar amount provided by CQU) to undertake a 3-year Doctorate degree.
CQU student and researcher, Amie Anastasi, successfully completed a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science in late 2006, together with an Honours Degree, also in Biomedical Science.
In presenting the award, GPNL's Chief Executive Officer John Downie said GPNL has been keen to ensure an improved understanding of the impact of major industries on the marine environment in Port Curtis.
Peter Corones, the former long-serving mayor of Gladstone, was presented with a special award as a long-time supporter of the university, with the citation reading, in part: " - Elected as Mayor in 1994, Peter presided over a stable and efficient administration for 14 years. However, it was as General Manager and Director of the Gladstone Promotion Bureau, a position he held since the Bureau's inception in 1983, that his presence and infectious enthusiasm were most apparent."
This award was presented as part of the graduation ceremony where 55 graduates and campus academics took part in the traditional procession along Goondoon St.
Josh Cleary, a graduate of CQUniversity's Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning, and a former student of Toolooa High School, is the new visual arts teacher at Monto State High School. Such is the quality of his work that he has run a solo art exhibition 'On the Move' at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum.
The Good Universities Guide 2009 rates CQUniversity as outperforming every other public university in the state for overall graduate outcomes like getting a job and starting salaries, and for providing Queensland's most extensive access to university for people of all ages and backgrounds. Gladstone is certainly fortunate to have a university, and the support of industry has made this university a great learning institution. Step by step, may the thirty years grow to three hundred years.
My thanks to Aimee Bartlett from CQ for her assistance in writing this article.