USQ Invests $1.5 Million in Research Scholarships

With $1.5 Million to spend on research scholarships in the next three years, USQ is hoping to attract more outstanding High Degree Research students from interstate and around the world.

The scholarships will promote four high profile content areas: Sustainability Initiative, Engineering Innovation, Healthy Communities and Future Learning.

USQ Director of Research and Higher Degrees, Dr Ren Yi, said the University had made a commitment to strengthen its research credentials in the four areas.

'Sustainability is the number one research area at USQ,' he said. 'We're looking at research on sustainability, climate change, sustainable water resources management, food and land management and also sustainable business.'

'Research into Engineering Innovation will cover materials development, electrical and mechanical engineering for industry.'  

'Healthy Communities research will be about regional and rural health issues such as mental health and informatics for the health industry.'

'Research into Future Learning is about issues relating to E Learning and other topics of interest to the Australian Digital Future Institute which will develop and apply innovative learning technologies that can enhance the academic working environment of USQ staff and facilitate the USQ vision of building sustainable futures.'

Ren said USQ hoped to attract outstanding post-graduate students from throughout the world to take up the offer of the scholarships.

'We really want to attract the highest calibre of research candidates and so we'll be marketing the scholarships widely,' he said. 'We're also spreading the word throughout our current partners and government agencies such as the China Scholarship Council.'

Applications for the scholarships are available now on the USQ Research Website: http://www.usq.edu.au/scholarships/postgrad/default.htm and close 31 October 2008. 

For further information contact Dr Ren Yi on + 61 07 4631 2866.
Media enquiries can be directed to Ally Martell on + 61 07 4631 2092