University tops national Multicultural Marketing Awards

USQ has a rich multicultural history

USQ has again been recognised for its commitment to multiculturalism when it was a High Commendation as a finalist in the Government Category of the 2009 National Multicultural Marketing Awards, beating the Australian Taxation Office and the NSW Office of Fair Trading.

Presented at a gala Awards Ceremony in Sydney on Monday November 2, the awards were given to business, government and community organisations whose marketing strategies considered aspects of cultural diversity.

The Community Relations Commission of NSW, which has been conducting the awards for twenty years, also looked at how the language and cultural skills of the organisation’s staff are used in the marketing of the product or service.

'We are indeed honoured to be a finalist for this award, and the High Commendation gives the University a significant national recognition,' Dr Krzysztof Batorowicz said, Director USQ Multicultural Centre.

'USQ, compared to many other universities, is fortunate to have so many highly respected senior academics and staff from other countries. These international scholars attract students from all over the world.

'This University has taken a holistic approach to multiculturalism, embedding it in its policies, strategies and practices. Now we are moving to utilisation of the benefits of multiculturalism into various and unique marketing strategies. These are the things the judges look for.'

Planning Officer for USQ, Mrs Sandra Carswell, said the award was an important benchmark for the University.

'This award shows that we have been assessed against other government agencies on a range of criteria and have come up trumps,' she said.

'This is very important because we do appreciate quality and USQ is developing a significant record in the area of multiculturalism, demonstrating clear leadership.'

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice), Professor Peter Goodall, said the Multicultural Centre deserved a great deal of credit for the award.

'The Centre is a symbol of USQ’s multicultural ethos, and its staff contribute significantly to creating a rich multicultural experience for students, staff and the community alike,' he said.

'Cultural celebrations such as Harmony Day, research projects, the development of a Multi-Faith Centre, the input given to USQ’s strategic planners – all of these activities have helped to raise awareness of social justice and equity issues, and to create the strong multicultural flavour of USQ.'

USQ is an acknowledged leader in promoting and developing multiculturalism, and this is not the first time the University has been recognised for its multicultural initiatives.

Last year USQ was awarded the Queensland 2008 Multicultural Award – Business Category – Large Business, and more recently it was endorsed by the Good Universities Guide 2010 (5 star rating) in the area of ‘Access by equity groups’ including ‘those from non-English speaking backgrounds’.

Contact Details:
Media Contact: Connie-Louise Rego, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977 or 0400 025 429