Darwin uni invests in Cairns city

CHARLES Darwin University has bought two education businesses in Cairns as it establishes a third university presence in the city.

The Darwin-based university has taken over the Cairns Language Centre (CLC) and the Cairns Business College (CBC) at Parramatta Park.

CDU vice-chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks said the addition of the businesses to the university extended its network to 11 campuses and centres in the Northern Territory, Sydney and Melbourne.

“The CLC has an outstanding reputation and it has obvious synergies with the CBC and with CDU,” he said.

“Language education and tourism and hospitality training are sectors that are important, not only in the Northern Territory, but also in the greater Australian region that the university serves.”

Founder and former owner Robyn White said the takeover would ensure strong futures for both educational enterprises.

“While it has been wonderful to have founded the CLC just over 50 years ago and to steer its growth, both businesses will benefit enormously from the input of the university’s widely recognised expertise as an education and training provider,” she said.