Fears over future of key language centre
INTERNATIONAL students at one of the oldest language training centres in Australia say any moves to shut down the facility could ruin their careers before they have even started.
The Cairns Language Centre and the Cairns Business College, both located inside the same white building on Mulgrave Rd in Parramatta Park, are operating at a $2 million loss, according to the ABC.
The national broadcaster reported the institutions’ parent company, Charles Darwin University, has been cutting courses and laying off staff at its NT campuses.
The centre and college have also reportedly been described as a “bad investment” by the National Tertiary Education Union.
The college’s general manager, John Martin, deferred all comments to Charles Darwin University.
In a statement, a CDU spokeswoman said the university was actively investigating options to address the ongoing viability of the Cairns Language Centre and Cairns Business College.
“The university has obligations to students and staff and we are taking these into consideration as we look at options,” she said.
CDU acquired the two education businesses, which have been operating for more than 50 years, in 2017.
In 2015, the Cairns Language Centre was named the best language centre in the world by a Japanese education and travel agency The Ryugaku Journal.
The business college has been a major education link between Cairns and Papua New Guinea for many years.
Michael Rudd, from PNG’s Western New Britain province, has been studying business at the college since June.
Mr Rudd, 21, said if the school was shut down, it would be devastating for him and his fellow students.
“We’ve paid to come to an international country for a certificate, because the curriculum here is much better, and there are a lot of PNG students here,” he said.
“Our parents have invested in us to come here, so if they close it, everything is messed up.”