New CQU campus officially open for business in Cairns

Published Thursday, 22 October, 2015 at 07:58 AM

Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Curtis Pitt

Cairns is now a two-university town following the official opening of CQUniversity’s new $15 million campus in the Cairns CBD.

Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt cut the ribbon at the new camps, saying it primed the Far North to expand on its reputation as a global hub for academic excellence in tropical design, medicine and research.

“This will unquestionably grow the Far North’s economy and opportunities with the new campus expected to attract 2,500 local and international students over the next five years and employ more than 60 academics and professional staff,” Mr Pitt said.

“CQU Cairns will produce more than 700 skilled graduates each year, providing nearly $250 million in economic benefits to our city and the Far Northern region.

“Cairns is internationally renowned as a vibrant, multicultural tropical city and having a university campus in the heart of our CBD will further enhance this and build our reputation as a destination of choice for international students.

“With 500 international students expected to attend this campus I certainly hope their families will come to visit them and see this remarkable part of the world.”

The campus, which opened its doors to students earlier this year, is already supporting more than 600 on-campus and Distance Education students.

Cairns MP Rob Pyne said enrolments to study in 2016 were now being accepted, with program options including Engineering, Education, Business and Accounting, IT, Nursing, Paramedic Science, Professional Communication, Public Health and Tourism.

“The Palaszczuk Government went to the election with a policy of a renewed focus on education in particular science, technology, engineering and maths,” Mr Pyne said.

“CQU’s campus boasts large teaching spaces for class and residential schools, computer and videoconferencing labs, Paramedic Science, Nursing and Engineering labs, a library, staff offices, study spaces and a welcoming reception area.

“It is also home to CQUniversity’s new Centre for Tourism and Regional Opportunity, with a vision to lead and revitalise Northern Australian tourism.”

CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott Bowman thanked community and business supporters, saying the new campus provides exciting opportunities for local students.

“Our expansion into Cairns demonstrates our national reputation for supporting our students to achieve, no matter how they choose to study,” Professor Bowman said.

“Many of our regional students, and also our international students, tell us they want to study in regional centres, and we believe that Cairns will deliver them a great experience not only for study, but also for lifestyle.”

 

CQUniversity Cairns by the numbers:
* 2500 - Expected student numbers within five years, including;
* 500 – number of international students within five years
* $43,843 – the average expenditure value of each international student to economy
* $15 million – anticipated non-salary campus investment by CQUniversity over five years
* 60 – expected number of campus staff to be employed within five years
* $7.6 million – estimated annual local staff salary expenditure within five years
* $1 million – investment by Queensland Government in campus engineering labs
* 714 – number of graduates locally produced each year by 2020 
* $224 million – estimated total economic spinoff impact on Cairns economy by 2020 (multiplier effect formula)

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