VC heads back to school

USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, will head back to school on Monday 26 May 2008 as part of Education Queensland's Principal for a Day initiative.

Held as part of State Education Week, the annual event provides business and community leaders with an insight into daily operations of state schools and allows school communities to interact with important role models.

Professor Lovegrove said he is looking forward to spending a day at Harristown State High School as part of the program.

'Being Principal for a Day allows me to meet many students and to see what they are learning and how schools have changed,' Professor Lovegrove said.

'Such insights may influence arrangements we put in place to help students transition from High School to university.

'I am also participating in the program to register a vote of confidence in the quality of High Schools in the Toowoomba region.'

During the day Professor Lovegrove will meet with school captains and deputy principals, as well as tour the school and undertake playground and bus duty.

'I hope that I am able to take on board suggestions that the students may have for entering their lives into the university system.

'I am also hoping to learn more about what is offered at high school and how we, as a University, may be able to engage more effectively with the schools.'

As part of his application, Professor Lovegrove was asked to describe his role in the community.

'I would like to be described as a ‘sports star', but that is in my mind only as I participate in triathlons for pleasure. By virtue of my employment I probably should be described as a community leader.'

Former Queensland participants in the program include Governor of Queensland Her Excellency Quentin Bryce and former Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove.

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092