Heads of satellite campuses to meet at USQ Fraser Coast

Senior staff from the satellite campuses of eight Australian universities will meet in Hervey Bay next week (July 14-15) to share successful practice and discuss common problems.

The Campus Heads’ Conference, organised by USQ Fraser Coast Provost, Professor Ken Stott, and head of CQ University Bundaberg and Noosa campuses Professor Phillip Clift, will be hosted by USQ Fraser Coast.

Senior staff and campus leaders taking part in the conference are from CQ University, Edith Cowan University, Southern Cross University, University of Ballarat, University of Newcastle, University of South Australia, and the University of Tasmania.

The purpose of the convention is to enable participants to learn from the successful practice of others working in similar situations, and to share common problems and issues.

Professor Stott said the two-day conference would bring together representatives from satellite campuses based in regional areas.

'Satellite campuses in regional areas face a set of issues that are not really shared by satellite campuses in metropolitan areas,' Professor Stott said.

The conference themes will focus on optimising relationships with headquarters, community engagement and developing the business.

Mr Robert Irvine, from Edith Cowan University, will lead a forum on how satellite campuses manage their relationships with the main campus.

Previously some small campuses have complained at being marginalised and this forum will address possible solutions.

CQ University’s Dr Pierre Viljoen will chair the forum on community engagement.

It will focus on how satellite campuses engage with their communities and how their relationships might be reciprocal and mutually beneficial.

A forum on developing the business will be chaired by Dr Rosie Wickert from Southern Cross University, NSW. Some satellite campuses are defined as business units of the university. Business development, therefore, is crucial to their success and the need to generate revenue through student load and other activities is a constant concern. The forum will look at some of the optimum strategies for enhancing business success.

The conference will feature three keynote speakers.

USQ Vice Chancellor Prof Bill Lovegrove will address the future for satellite campuses in the wake of the Bradley Review on Australian higher education.

Vice Chancellor of CQ University Prof Scott Bowman’s keynote address will focus on his first year as a vice chancellor of a 10-campus regional university.

Prof Janelle Allison, from the University of Tasmania, will present a speech entitled: 'Unlocking Talent: The New Regional Campus'.