REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES: PARTNERS FOR THE FUTURE
MEDIA RELEASE
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) believes that Victoria’s regional universities and campuses make a unique and important contribution to their local communities, NTEU National President Dr Carolyn Allport said today.
“They do this not only through the provision of educational opportunities for students from regional and remote areas, but through their contribution to the economic and social infrastructure and development of the communities in which they are located,” Dr Allport said.
These issues will be canvassed at Tuesday’s Regional Education Forum, “The Role of Regional Universities: Education and Community, Now and into the Future”, to be held at the SMB Campus at the University of Ballarat (see details below).
A recent study by the Western Research Institute found that the University of Ballarat injects over $500 million per year into the region’s economy, and accounts for nearly 9% of the region’s employment.
Examples of some of the benefits to the Ballarat community from having a successful regional university include:
· The economic benefits from the development of the Ballarat Technology Park and the relationships developed between the University and IBM;
· The cultural benefits arising out of the University’s intake of international students and its affect on Ballarat’s diversity and migrant programs;
· The social benefits achieved through the many and varied relationships between the University and other sectors on research and coursework projects.
Many of these benefits are driven by University staff creating and implementing projects and consultancies, and through the University responding directly to community needs.
“The Forum is an opportunity for the University, its staff and community representatives to further develop our positive relationships, to look at what has been successful in the past and how we use that to guarantee a sustainable future for the University,” Dr Allport said.
REGIONAL EDUCATION FORUM
Tuesday 15 May 2007, 6.30pm , Brewery Theatre, SMB Campus, Lydiard St South, Ballarat
Featuring:
Catherine King MP, Federal Member for Ballarat
Professor David Battersby, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ballarat
David Vendy, Mayor
Dr Carolyn Allport, National President NTEU
Wayne Muir, Chair Ballarat Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
Entry is free. The Forum has been organised by the NTEU.
Further information and comment:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU National President 03 9254 1910
Media enquiries:
Michael Evans, Communications Officer 0418 241 664