Central Queensland University


Central Queensland University is an Australian dual sector university based in central Queensland. CQUniversity is the only Australian university with a campus presence in every mainland state. Its main campus is in Norman Gardens in Rockhampton, however, it also has campuses in Adelaide, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne, Noosa, Perth, Rockhampton City, Sydney and Townsville. CQUniversity also has delivery sites to support distance education in Biloela, Broome, Busselton, Charters Towers, Karratha and Yeppoon, and partners with university centres in Cooma, Geraldton and Port Pirie.

History

CQUniversity began as the Queensland Institute of Technology in 1967, and after two years under the name of the University College of Central Queensland, in 1992 became an official university named the University of Central Queensland. In 1994, it adopted the name Central Queensland University. In 2008, it became CQUniversity in recognition of the institutions' expansion beyond the Central Queensland region.

Beginnings

CQUniversity's antecedent institution, the Queensland Institute of Technology, was established in Rockhampton in 1967 as a regional branch of the Queensland Institute of Technology.
However, the first steps to establish a university in Rockhampton were taken as early as the 1940s. In 1941, the Queensland Labor Premier, William Forgan Smith, introduced section 17 of the National Education Co-ordination and University of Queensland Amendment Act, which provided for the creation of university colleges outside Brisbane. In 1944 and 1945, a series of Rockhampton delegations lobbied the Queensland government for a university college, but after the University of Queensland established a network of provincial study centres in the late 1940s the issue became dormant.
Rockhampton's university campaign resumed in the 1950s as Central Queensland became an emerging heavy industry base, with developing coal mines and Gladstone emerging as a light metals centre. In the Queensland parliament in November 1956, the local member for Rockhampton stated “more adequate facilities for technical education” were required for the region and, appealing to the philosophy of a “fair go”, he urged that Rockhampton people be given “the same opportunities as those in Brisbane”. In 1958, P J Goldston, an engineer mooted the possibility of a Central Queensland university with Rockhampton engineers and after further community discussion, the Rockhampton Mayor, Alderman R B J Pilbeam, called the first public meeting on 3 March 1959 at which the Central Queensland University Development Association was constituted.
The UDA presented university proposals to government and, in 1961, the Queensland government reserved 161 hectares of government land at Parkhurst on the Bruce Highway near the Yeppoon turnoff as a tertiary education site. Establishment finally was resolved in March 1965, when the Commonwealth government's Martin Report was tabled in parliament by Prime Minister Menzies―who announced the foundation of a new style of tertiary institution at both Rockhampton and Toowoomba. The new institutes―Rockhampton's was named The Queensland Institute of Technology, Capricornia ―were affiliated with the main Queensland Institute of Technology campus in Brisbane and lacked the autonomy of universities, being controlled by the Queensland Education Department.
When the QITC first opened in February 1967, there was no extensive campus to greet the handful of staff and initial intake of 71 full-time and part-time students. While building progressed at Parkhurst, the first classes held on the top floor of the Technical College in Bolsover Street were a makeshift affair with no laboratories, library facilities or stock. By 1969, most staff and students had transferred to the Parkhurst campus, still a bushland site in progress―in the summer months, the campus was often ringed by spectacular bush fires or deluged with torrential rain: cars slid in the mud or were bogged and the QITC's foundation Principal, Dr Allan Skertchly, ferried people in his 4WD across floodwaters. Some students slept temporarily on mattresses in the canteen while waiting for the first residential college to open.

1970s onwards

After the passage of the amended Education Act in 1971, QITC became an autonomous, multi-functional college under the control of its own council and took the name of Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education.
Along with creating a traditional university campus experience in a natural setting, the CIAE also developed engineering and science projects. The CIAE became the first college in Australia to introduce a Bachelor of Science externally in 1974.
By 1979, external enrolments at the CIAE had increased to 825 and by 1985 distance education had become a major campus operation, exceeding internal enrolments and offering 12 courses involving some 100 subjects and processing 23,980 study packages annually.
Between 1978 and 1989, the CIAE established branch campuses in Central Queensland at Gladstone, Mackay, Bundaberg and Emerald.

Expansion in the 1990s

The CIAE became the University College of Central Queensland in 1990 and gained full university status in 1992. At that time it was known as the University of Central Queensland. The name was changed in 1994 to Central Queensland University.
After the Australian government approved the enrolment of full-fee paying students in Australian institutions in 1986, the CIAE began trans national education ventures with many countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Fiji. Through a public-private partnership with CMS the university opened its first international campus in Sydney in 1994, followed by international campuses in Melbourne in 1997, Brisbane in 1998 and the Gold Coast in 2001.

2000 onwards

In 2001, the university appointed Queensland's first female Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glenice Hancock, who retired in 2004.
From 2009 onward, CQUniversity launched a new strategic plan to grow student numbers and expand course offerings, especially within the health disciplines. New course offerings included physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, speech pathology, oral health sonography, and medical imaging. CQUniversity also delivers courses in discipline areas including apprenticeships, trades and training, business, accounting and law, creative, performing and visual arts, education and humanities, engineering and built environment, health, information technology and digital media, psychology, social work and community services, science and environment, and work and study preparation.
In 2014, CQUniversity merged with CQ TAFE to establish Queensland's first dual sector university. CQUniversity is now the public provider of TAFE in the central Queensland region and also delivers vocational courses at other locations across Australia and online. Following the merger CQUniversity now delivers more than 300 courses from short courses through to PhDs.
CQUniversity is the only Australian university to be accredited as a by global social innovation group .

Medicine

In March 2018 the university announced it was in talks to establish a Medical school at its Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses. Discussions are with the Hospital and Health Services of Central Queensland and Wide Bay, the main physical organisation of Queensland Health in the two regions.

Organisation and governance

Governance

CQUniversity is governed by the CQUniversity Council, comprising the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and various elected and appointed representatives. Operationally, CQUniversity is managed by the Vice-Chancellor and five Deputy Vice-Chancellors who oversee portfolios including: International and Services, Research, Tertiary Education, Student Experience and Governance, Engagement and Campuses, Strategic Development and Finance and Planning. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the University Council and reports to the Council through the Chancellor.
Associate Vice-Chancellors manage the regions in which the University operates including Rockhampton, Mackay and Whitsunday, Wide Bay Burnett, Gladstone, Central Highlands, South East Queensland, Townsville and North West Queensland, Far North Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. Pro Vice-Chancellors manage the areas of learning and teaching, Indigenous engagement and vocational education. The Schools within the University are managed by Deans, within the Tertiary Education Division.

Vice-Chancellor

CQUniversity is led by Professor Nick Klomp who was appointed as Vice-Chancellor and President in 2018. He officially commenced his appointment on Monday, 4 February 2019. Professor Klomp is the University's sixth Vice-Chancellor, replacing Professor Scott Bowman who served in the role from 2009 - 2019.

University Council

The CQUniversity Council is the governing body of CQUniversity and was established under the Central Queensland University Act. Mr John Abbott is the Chancellor of CQUniversity.
Tertiary Education Division
The Tertiary Education Division is led by the University's Provost and overseas the delivery of higher education and vocational education through the University's schools.
Research
The Research Division is led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research who is responsible for shaping and implementing the University's research strategy.

International & Services Division

The Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor is responsible for oversight and strategic management of the facilities and services which support the overall operations of the University. The Vice President and Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor is responsible, as part of the Senior Executive for overall strategic planning, commercial operations and leadership of the business operations for the university.
Within the University Services Portfolio lie the Directorates of Marketing, Facilities Management, People and Culture, Library Services, Information Technology, and Commercial Services.  The International Portfolio is responsible for management of the University's global operations including recruitment; delivery of programs; compliance; and government relations through embassies across the globe.

Student Experience and Governance Division

The Student Experience and Governance Division is led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and is responsible for the management of governance processes within the university through the Council and sub-committees. The division is made up of three directorates including Governance, the Student Experience and Communications.
The Governance Directorate has day to day carriage of governance activities. The Internal Audit Directorate operates as an independent appraisal function which forms an integral part of the University's internal control framework. The Student Experience and Communications Directorate is responsible for promoting, supporting and enhancing the University's reputation, activities and achievements, through strategic communications.

Schools

CQUniversity has six schools, each of which are managed by specialist Deans.
The schools are:
CQUniversity runs programs in a wide range of disciplines, including apprenticeships, trades and training; business, accounting and law; creative, performing and visual arts; education and humanities; engineering and building environment; health; information technology and digital media; psychology, social work and community services, science and environment; and English, work and study preparation.

Campuses

CQUniversity has the following campuses:
CQUniversity also operates delivery sites in Biloela, Cairns, Yeppoon, Cannonvale, Geraldton, Charters Towers and Edithvale

Rockhampton campuses

Two campuses operate in the Rockhampton region: Rockhampton, City and Rockhampton, North. The Rockhampton City campus is centrally located and offers a wide range of study options from certificates and diplomas to undergraduate programs. It also offers short courses in a range of areas including business, hospitality and beauty. Key facilities include Wilby's Training Restaurant, Hair Essence Hair Salon, Engineering Technology Centre, Trade training workshops and an Adult Learning Centre. The Rockhampton North campus is the university's headquarters. The campus has facilities including an Engineering Precinct, Health Clinic, Student Residence, food court and Sports Centre.
The Engineering Precinct has labs for fluids, thermodynamics, thermofluids, geotech, concrete and structures, and electronics. There is also a new lecture theatre, a postgraduate area, a materials-testing area, an acoustic test cell, a soils store, and a multi-purpose project-based learning lab.
The public-access health clinic on campus caters for up to 160 clients per day. The clinic allows students to work with qualified health professionals in the areas of oral health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and speech pathology.

Mackay campuses

Two campuses operate in the Mackay region: CQUniversity Mackay, City and CQUniversity Mackay, Ooralea, including a Trades Training Centre. The Mackay City campus located on Sydney Street, in the Mackay CBD, delivers both vocational and academic courses. Facilities on the campus include 24-hour computer labs, training restaurants, hair dressing salon, beauty salon, canteen and library. The Mackay Ooralea campus is located on Mackay's southern outskirts and is about six kilometres from the city centre. The campus includes lecture theatres, a performance theatre, tutorial rooms, computer laboratories, a nursing laboratory, video-conference rooms, recording studios, student accommodation, a bookshop, a refectory and a library. On-site accommodation is provided at the Mackay Residential College.
The Trade Training Centre caters for 1500 students doing apprenticeship programs in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, furnishing, metal fabrication, mechanical fitting and light and heavy automotive training, as well as skills training for the building, construction, mines, minerals and energy sectors.

Bundaberg campus

CQUniversity's Bundaberg campus is located on a 23-hectare site on Bundaberg's southern outskirts. The campus specialises in small class sizes and individually focused learning and teaching Campus facilities include a library, bookshop, campus refectory, a 200-seat and a 100‑seat lecture theatre, four computer laboratories, nursing clinical laboratories and videoconferencing rooms. In 2012, Bundaberg Regional Council and CQUniversity signed an accord as a formal expression of their commitment to have Bundaberg recognised as a 'University City'. The campus has an academic and research building which includes a 64-seat scientific laboratory, sound studio and multi-media and science research facilities. The campus also hosts a forensic crash lab to support learning for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Accident Forensics.
From 2013, CQUniversity Bundaberg has also offer commercial pilot training through a partnership with the Australian Flight Academy.

Gladstone campuses

Two campuses operate in the Gladstone region: CQUniversity Gladstone, City and CQUniversity Gladstone, Marina. The Gladstone City campus is located in the CBD. It offers specialist training for the gas industry, instrumentation and business studies. Key facilities include a canteen, Engineering Technology Centre, computer labs, Adult Learning Centre, Hair Essence Hair Salon, beauty facilities and a sports oval. The Gladstone Marina campus is located within the Gladstone Marina precinct. It is home to the Gladstone Environmental Science Centre and the Gladstone Engineering Centre. Students at the campus use lecture theatre and training facilities, computer labs, the Cyril Golding Library, bookshop and a range of career counselling and support services.

Noosa campus

CQUniversity Noosa was first established in 2003 as a hub in the small Sunshine Coast village of Pomona, offering courses in Learning Management. In 2007, the Campus relocated to Goodchap Street, Noosaville and its capacity was doubled to accommodate 1200 students. The Noosa campus offers modern facilities and surrounds including clinical nursing laboratories, library and student resource centre facilities, state of the art collaborative learning spaces and is home to the Learning and Teaching Education Research Centre.

Emerald campus

CQUniversity Emerald is located on the Capricorn Highway, 275 km west of Rockhampton, and delivers trade based apprenticeships. Campus facilities include workshops for apprenticeship training, student common room and an afterhours computer lab.

Brisbane campus

CQUniversity Brisbane is located in the heart of the CBD at 160 Ann Street, Brisbane. The campus comprises nine floors of facilities including lecture rooms, multimedia labs, bookshop, library and a student lounge.

Sydney campus

CQUniversity Sydney is located on 400 Kent Street. With over 2000 international students, Sydney campus has the largest student population. The campus comprises lecture theatres, multimedia labs, bookshop, library, café and a student lounge. In 2013 the basement of the campus building was renovated and is now used as a dedicated space for students to relax and socialise.

Melbourne campus

CQUniversity Melbourne is a city campus. the Campus comprises multimedia labs, CQUni Bookshop, library, student lounge, and presentation and audio-visual equipment.

Adelaide Campus

CQUniversity Adelaide is located in the south-west of the city in close proximity to the Adelaide Showgrounds. The Campus is home to The Appleton Institute, a multidisciplinary research hub formerly Adelaide's Centre for Sleep Research. The Institute specialises in research, teaching and community engagement in a wide range of areas including safety science, sleep and fatigue, human factors and safety management, applied psychology, human-animal interaction and cultural anthropology.

Cairns Distance Education Study Centre

A Cairns study centre was established in July 2012 to cater to around 350 CQUniversity distance education students in the Far North Queensland region. The centre allows students to form study groups, access e-library and internet resources, sit exams, lodge assignments, participate in live lectures broadcast via high-speed internet, and make academic enquiries.

Other sites

CQUniversity also operates distance education centres, hubs and sites in Charters Towers, Cooma, Cannonvale, Townsville, Perth, Karratha, Edithvale, and Geraldton.

Academic profile

Research centres & institutes

CQUniversity has numerous research centres, institutes and groups including:
The University is also a partner in the Queensland Centre for Social Science Innovation together with the Queensland State Government, University of Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology and James Cook University. The QCSSI is based at the St Lucia campus of UQ.

Engagement

CQUniversity's stated aim is to be Australia's most engaged university. To this end, the university has appointed a Pro Vice-Chancellor and encourages staff to record their engagement experiences in a comprehensive engagement database known as E-DNA. The University also runs an award ceremony known as the Opal Awards, which recognise staff for excellence in engagement.
In March 2012, CQUniversity appointed former Queensland University of Technology and Monash University academic Bronwyn Fredericks to the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor. Professor Fredericks, a Murri woman, is also the inaugural BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, a position funded by coal mining group BMA. Her stated aim is to pursue engagement with the Central Queensland region's numerous Indigenous communities to improve education outcomes.
CQUniversity is a partner of Indian charity Salaam Baalak Trust, which rescues, cares for and educates street children. The university provides higher education scholarships to Salaam Baalak children and sponsors the charity's City Walk program.
As part of its commitment to engagement, CQUniversity implemented Ucroo's Digital Campus platform became a member of the Talloires Network.

University art collection

The University began collecting art in the 1970s and has since developed a collection of almost 600 art works, including international and Australian paintings, ceramics, prints and photographs. While there is not a gallery or museum space at the university, art works are displayed across the campus network and lent to other organisations, such as regional galleries and other universities, for display in temporary exhibitions.

Rankings

CQUniversity graduates were ahead of the national rate for graduate full-time employment according to figures compiled by Graduate Careers Australia. GCA published a full-time report of 71.3%, while a direct comparison had the CQUniversity graduate full-time employment rate at 81.1%.
In 2013 CQUniversity was awarded five stars for online delivery, internationalisation and access in its first foray into the global university ratings QS Stars. It also scored a 4 for teaching and for facilities.
In 2012, CQUniversity lifted its rankings in the Excellence in Research for Australia audit from 28 to 21. The University picked up three five-star ratings in 2012, up from its 2010 result of just two three-star ratings. CQUniversity performed at or well above world standard in four areas of research according to ERA 2012, with nursing research continuing to perform at 'world standard', and research in applied mathematics, agriculture and land management, and other medical and health sciences deemed to be ranked at the highest levels of performance 'well above world standard'.

Students

As of 2014, CQUniversity had around 35,000 students enrolled across its various campuses as well as by distance education.
International students can study at CQUniversity campuses located at Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, or at CQUniversity's regional campuses in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Noosa, Mackay or Rockhampton.

Notable alumni & past students

Some of the notable alumni and past students of CQUniversity and its predecessor institutions include: