COUNTRY Universities Centre and La Trobe University have formed a partnership with the aim of improving access to higher education in regional areas.<\/p>\n
The CUC is a community driven organisation with 18 centres around Australia and overseen by locals who provide support to regional students studying off-campus.<\/p>\n
CEO of CUC Chris Ronan said working with La Trobe would mean more opportunities for students in regional Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny student from any university, studying any degree can come in and get face-to-face support, a learning community of students from within their own community and start to really establish connections and normalise higher education,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The initiative is supported by tertiary institutions around the country, which help the CUC support students to navigate enrolment and academic processes.<\/p>\n
The opening of a new centre in Swan Hill had seen a lot of new students enrol in higher education after is made it possible for them to actively engage in regular study.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are people who never would have come to university before because they\u2019re established in those communities, they\u2019ve got kids or caring responsibilities,\u201d Mr Ronan said.<\/p>\n
One aim of the CUC is to provide place-based, in person support that helps people to access higher education in a way that does not feel isolating.<\/p>\n
La Trobe pro vice-chancellor Melanie Bish said she was thrilled her institution had joined the program because it was important for the university to make programs accessible to students.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a university we\u2019re committed to the economic social and cultural development of rural and regional communities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we understand the importance of members of our communities to be able to access higher education and upskill themselves for the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Bish said CUC had infrastructure in place to provide stable internet access and other telecommunication resources to students.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo students can actually stay in community but have a greater level of assurance around the resources that they\u2019ve got to help them engage with their studies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COUNTRY Universities Centre and La Trobe University have formed a partnership with the aim of improving access to higher education in regional areas. The CUC is a community driven organisation with 18 centres around Australia and overseen by locals who provide support to regional students studying off-campus. CEO of CUC Chris Ronan said working with […]<\/p>\n