USQ releases new generation of degrees
A new generation of degree programs designed to renew, revitalise and re-profile the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) was announced today (20 May 2008).
Packaged as part of the Realising Our Potential (RoP) project, the plans will guarantee USQ's future as a thriving regional university by revitalising the education experience for students.
USQ Vice Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, said the final academic plans will respond to the demands of the Australian workforce by repositioning the University's five faculties for the next 10 years.
'The final plans considered feedback from staff and looked at ways in which the University could build on its strengths to offer relevant degrees while maintaining investment strategies that will allow high standards of research to continue,' Professor Lovegrove said.
'Our aim is to offer a diversity of degrees that will re-vitalise the education experience for students so that our degrees will remain attractive to all current and future students.
'Our research showed that we were offering more degrees than most capital city universities but that 86 percent of our students were enrolled in just 20 percent of our courses. It was just not possible to maintain the viability of some degrees with zero or low student enrolments.
'By reviewing the degrees we offered we will now be able to equip graduates with a range of skills that will make them more employable.
'All of our flagship degrees in Arts, Business, Education, Sciences and Engineering & Surveying will remain and will be improved to ensure that we deliver degrees that students and employers want.'
Professor Lovegrove said the University will be able to achieve these objectives through careful management of resources, at a time when funding opportunities are tight.
'While it still may be necessary to consider a small number of staff reductions in the University most of our savings have been made through natural attrition by staff retiring or leaving and their replacements considered against the strategic direction of the University.'
The final plan includes the introduction of a common first year program in the Faculty of Education and alternative entry options and articulation pathways in the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying.
'The academic plan is also responding to changing industry demands by combining three separate creative arts degrees (music, visual arts and theatre) into a single degree called the Bachelor of Creative Arts that will increase students' skills making them more employable within the creative arts industries.
'A new Bachelor of Information Technology (IT) will also be offered jointly by the Faculties of Sciences and Business,' Professor Lovegrove said.
A new set of awards to replace the Bachelor of Sciences degree was also recommended, in line with industry demand.
'The award will cater for students wanting to pursue careers in the high demand areas of climatology and sustainability, science studies and molecular and cellular biology, all of which have been shown as growth areas by state and federal government.
'By decreasing the amount of money we spend on unpopular programs, the University will now be in a position to invest money in the development of new, high-demand degrees.'
Professor Lovegrove said the University looked forward to continuing to work with key stakeholders to present a more flexible range of programs to meet the needs of students and the future workforce and shape the University for growth in the Higher Education sector.
'USQ is a significant contributor to our region and provides more than $300 million annually into the local economy and our academic plan will allow the University to increase its investment and knowledge sharing throughout the community.
'Our initiatives will now allow us to concentrate efforts in an accelerated biomedical science program which contributes to science education in schools and will continue to deliver on our outstanding cultural experiences such as the Shakespeare Festival and the McGregor Residential Schools.
Media Contact: Dr Aidan Burke, Director Corporate Communications, 0412 647 004