Local students enrolled in any Australian university now have free access to a high-tech campus-like facility to complete their studies.
Country Universities Centre (CUC) Maranoa opened its doors in Roma in early 2021.
CUC Maranoa marks the start of the future of a new way of educating, with the hope of closing the tertiary education gap between regional communities and larger cities.
CUC Maranoa chair Cameron O’Neil said an aspiring student’s future should not be determined by where they live.
“Our centre will allow local students to participate in tertiary education and achieve their educational goals from their hometown and community,” Cr O’Neil said.
“Practically, it means local students can access high-speed internet, printing and video conferencing, as well as academic, administrative and peer support.”
Cr O’Neil said plans to give local tertiary students a real, local option to study had been “on the cards” for several years.
He said with CUC the first centre of its kind in Queensland, this vision was being realised.
“To be able to offer local students a choice to study local will increase the chances of keeping them in our communities for the long term,” Cr O’Neil said.
“It makes our region a more attractive place to live and will make it more sustainable.
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“CUC Maranoa is a game-changer for keeping our youth in our communities while also giving anyone, of any age, the opportunity to further their studies from the place they call home in a professional, purpose-fit and technology-advanced country universities centre.
“I am thrilled with the support from our four foundation sponsors as it truly illustrates the strong local backing our centre has in the community.”
CUC Maranoa, which relies on financial support from the federal Government and sponsors, Santos, Origin, Maranoa Regional Council and Powerlink, had 126 students registered in 2021.
Any student wishing to discuss their eligibility to study should call the centre manager on 0407 033 289.
