USQ welcomes students from United States

Two Montana State University Bozeman (MSU) education students will be officially welcomed to the University of Southern Queensland this Thursday (15 March 2007).

Brandon Roosevelt and Michael Poser are both studying education at MSU and are undertaking professional experience at two Toowoomba High Schools as part of an exchange program between USQ and MSU.

'We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MSU where each year we can send five students there and five students come here,' USQ Faculty of Education Professional Experience Manager Sheila King said.

'When the students arrive they are placed in local schools for a semester, with Brandon at Harristown State High School and Michael at Centenary Heights State High School this semester.'

Running since 1998, the exchange program provides students with the opportunity to experience teaching in another country.

'Since it began, we have sent around 20 students to MSU who were studying across all sectors of education, including early childhood and primary and high school education,' Mrs King said.

'It allows the students to broaden their experiences and also improves their employment prospects.'

The MOU is the only one of its kind for the Faculty of Education and an American University, with USQ keen to continue their association with MSU.

'Professor Bill Hall from MSU will also be welcomed to the University on Thursday and he played a major role in setting up the MOU.

'While he is here we will hold further talks on the future of the program, which we hope will continue to attract students.'

The welcome will be held in the Education Common Room at USQ from 3:30pm. Media are welcome to attend the event.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628