North American universities to explore possible collaboration with USQ

Representatives from American and Canadian universities will visit USQ this month (March 24) to discuss potential partnerships and research collaborations.

The Australian Higher Education Seminar (AHES) is organised by Austrade and runs from March 13 until March 27. The seminar enables 12 study abroad advisors and international directors, who are chosen by a selection committee, to learn about Australian higher education and potentially develop academic partnerships between institutions.

USQ International Recruitment and Admissions Director, Mr Martin van Run, said exchange and study abroad programs were a great way to help ‘internationalise’ universities.

'They provide opportunities for our own students to spend part of their degree studying at an overseas university at no extra tuition cost and enable our own University to benefit from the influx of additional international students,' Mr van Run said.

'The range of students that comes via Exchange and Study Abroad significantly increases the diversity of our international student mix, with many of these coming from North America and Europe. USQ provides some financial support for our students studying in approved Exchange and Study Abroad programs.

'We look forward to welcoming the visitors and to developing links that could result in enhanced internationalisation via student and/or staff exchanges and possible research collaborations in future.'

Among the visitors to USQ will be University of North Texas International Initiatives Director, Eric Canny, who opened programs in Argentina, China, Costa Rica, France and Ghana, as well as managed study abroad programs, with 10 global sites.

Mr Canny, who is a distant relative of Thomas Jefferson, said by participating in the AHES he hoped to develop exchange or affiliated programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, joint research opportunities, and the exploration of facilities for short-term study aboard programs.

Also visiting USQ is University of Lethbridge Senior Advisor to the President, Laurel Corbiere, who is involved in projects with internationalisation, aboriginal learning, community service learning and sustainability.

Ms Corbiere said she hoped to establish new exchange partnerships with Australian universities, learning Australian methods and models in the areas of strategic planning and expand her professional network of colleagues.

The visiting academics will meet with academics from across all USQ faculties and embark on a tour of USQ’s Toowoomba campus, including the residential colleges and Japanese Gardens.