USQ program proves popular overseas
Although he is a long way from the classroom, South African student Llewellyn Miller is enjoying the fruits of his efforts after completing his postgraduate studies in Project Management at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).
The number of USQ alumni in South Africa grows daily as the advantages of flexible learning are recognised by busy professionals whose life and work does not fit neatly into a lecture theatre.
The distance education program completed by Llewellyn is aimed at producing graduates who have appropriate skills and knowledge to manage small, medium and large-sized projects as a senior team leader, project manager or project director.
Llewellyn said he had put all the knowledge gained in his studies to good use in his current and past working situations.
'This has led me to better understand the difficulties encountered in managing projects, the ability to deal with these issues and to successfully manage them,' Llewellyn said.
'The course structures make for easy learning, especially for students outside of Australia and the study materials provided, recommended texts and supplementary texts assist in achieving the goals of the program.'
The skills gained by Llewellyn while completing the Postgraduate Certificate will be used in his role as a Project Manager in South Africa.
Project Management masters degrees and postgraduate certificate programs have also proved popular with domestic students as more people return to studies to further their knowledge and careers.
Faculty of Business Dean, Professor Allan Layton said the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has developed modes of teaching geared towards assisting students challenged by competing interests in their lives.
'Increasingly, postgraduate courses taught on campus are offered in intensive workshop mode throughout the year, compressing fifteen weeks of study into two three-day workshops supported by first class on-line learning support materials, making the combination of work, study and family easier,' Professor Layton said.
'During these workshops the content of the course is reviewed and students then have the rest of the semester to complete assessment items in a way that fits in with their other commitments, all the while supported online by their lecturers.
'Case studies are examined in small groups to encourage student interaction and guest practitioners are invited to the workshops to provide short presentations on how theory meets the real world.
'Courses taught in intensive mode still have the same number of contact hours as those in normal on-campus mode, sometimes more.
'Rather than attending lectures and tutorials each week during the semester however, they are combined into day-long sessions, a few days at a time.'
Professor Layton said the programs were also offered as web-based courses and through distance education to domestic students.
'All of these options are designed to make it easier for people who are working full time to fit their study into their schedule.
'I congratulate Llewellyn on completing his postgraduate certificate and wish him well in his career as a Project Manager.
'We hope to have him back at USQ to complete his Masters Degree in the future,' he said.
For further information about Project Management and other Business programs offered at USQ go to http://www.usq.edu.au/business/
Media Contact: Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979