CQUniversity Annual Report - Central Queensland University

CQUniversity ANNUAL REPORT 2012VICE-CHANCELLOR ANDPRESIDENT’S REVIEWLooking back on 2012 there is no doubt the year has been one of the most successful inCQUniversity’s history. The University has invested heavily in new facilities, new programsand new academic and research talent, and while this has caused the University todelve into its funding reserves, we see these activities as an investment in our futuresustainability. Since embarking on an ambitious renewal plan in 2009, CQUniversity iswell on its way to becoming one of Australia’s strongest regional universities. Based onthe following achievements our future is looking very bright and we are well on track tobecoming a great university by 2020.DUAL SECTOR APPROVALThe Queensland Government gave fi nal approval for the merger between CQUniversity and Central Queensland Institute of TAFE(CQ TAFE), removing one of the last hurdles for the creation of Queensland’s fi rst dual sector university. After more than two years ofnegotiations, this move sets the stage for CQUniversity to revolutionise the delivery of higher education and vocational education andtraining in Central Queensland.INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTUREIn the past year CQUniversity has extended the Noosa campus ($2.5m) and opened a refurbished Rockhampton Library ($6.4m) andEngineering Precinct ($10.7m). A distance education study centre was also opened in Cairns to support the learning needs of ourdistance education students in Far North Queensland. In 2013, CQUniversity plans to continue this investment by opening further distanceeducation study centres at our metropolitan campuses and developing a $16m Engineering Precinct in Mackay and an Accident ForensicsLab in Bundaberg.5VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT’S REVIEW OF 2012CQUNIVERSITY HEALTH CLINICStage 1 of the $7m CQUniversity Health Clinic was opened in Rockhampton in August 2012, thanks in large part to funding provided by HealthWorkforce Australia. This clinic has the dual aim of providing improved health care outcomes for people in Central Queensland, and skilling upthe region’s future health workforce. Service provision by the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service team located in the CQUniversityHealth Clinic is estimated to provide health care for up to 160 clients per day along with supporting the clinical placements of up to 200students annually.ENGAGEMENTA number of initiatives have been set in place in relation to CQUniversity’s engagement agenda in 2012, including the appointment of a Pro Vice-Chancellor and BMA Chair (Indigenous Engagement), Professor Bronwyn Fredericks. Professor Fredericks will work closely with CQUniversity’s ProVice-Chancellor (Community and Engagement) and our industry partners to implement new programs and oversee existing engagement activitieswhich aim to improve education outcomes for Indigenous students and engagement with Indigenous communities.RESEARCHCQUniversity’s signifi cant investment in research is beginning to pay off, with CQUniversity researchers acquiring more than $1.3m incompetitive research grants in 2012 and a total research income of $7.1m. The latest fi ndings based on the Excellence in Research for Australia(ERA) indicated that CQUniversity has performed at or well above world standard in four areas of research – Nursing, Applied Mathematics,Agriculture and Land Management and Other Medical and Health Sciences. Our research activity, measured by income and outputs this year, isgrowing substantially.AUSTRALIA’S FASTEST GROWING REGIONAL UNIVERSITYDue to a number of exciting new program offerings and investment in our national campus footprint CQUniversity is now one of Australia’s fastestgrowing regional universities. Strong partnerships with industry have also enabled us to provide students with work integrated learning options,ensuring they are completely ‘work ready’ when they graduate.