Expansion in tandem with local feedback
CQUNIVERSITY Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman is confident Cairns will get behind the facility’s expansion because the community had a big say in its composition.
“CQUniversity came to Cairns quite modestly back in 2012, but our philosophy of engaging with the community and its industries on all our big decisions saw our student numbers almost triple in a no time at all, with our staff numbers now exceeding 140 and no room left on our current campus for more growth,” he said.
“So we have this trust in the community when they tell us what will and won’t work.
“The community has essentially given us a blueprint for where they see Cairns in 15 years and asked us how we can deliver on it for them. I have absolute faith in their vision and in our ability to deliver.”
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said he had worked closely with the university on the proposal.
“I know there is huge potential here, particularly in the field of aviation industry training and in health and education, sectors which have been identified as having the ‘jobs of the future’,” he said.
“The sports science component also aligns beautifully with our vision of Cairns becoming the fourth tropical sports conditioning city in the world, alongside Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
“I’m excited about continuing to work with the university as we seek Federal Government support for this expansion proposal.”
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council had a strong relationship with CQU from the early days of the CQUni Distance Education Study Centre which opened in 2012.
“This significant investment is a display of confidence in our region, but it is also recognition of Cairns’ reputation as an innovation hub,” he said.
“The introduction of new courses, in particular the new Exercise and Sport Science degree, coupled with CQUniversity’s ongoing sponsorship of the Cairns Taipans, continues to show a strong commitment to fostering community goodwill, forging relationships with local schools, business, industry and community groups.”