USQ and TAFE partner to bring education closer to all

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Professor Bill Lovegrove and Carol Webb
sign a parthways agreement between
USQ and TAFE Queensland

Students working and learning anywhere in Queensland will soon be able to access seamless pathways into a university degree following the signing today of an agreement between TAFE Queensland and Toowoomba’s University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

The agreement will see TAFE institutes provide classroom and face to face support to students enrolled in online courses that will cater for a range of industry related needs and career opportunities.

Through the collaborative development of the Queensland Tertiary Education Participation network (QTEPnet) both TAFE and USQ will look to increase the take up of tertiary education in regional areas by making it easier for students to move between TAFE and university courses. The agreement will also put in place staffing and student support services using existing TAFE networks and USQ’s online expertise.

USQ’s Vice Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove said that through the arrangement students who might normally not have the chance to go on to vocational and higher education will soon be able to study online and have the assistance of tutorial staff working out of Queensland TAFE Institutes.

Professor Lovegrove said the initiative is in response to the Federal Government’s recommendation to build Australia’s skill base and progress regional sustainability, through the provision of personally, professionally, industrially and regionally relevant education pathways.

‘QTEPnet will open up a range of opportunities for integrated TAFE and University awards to be developed that will cater for workplace demands and which will allow students to get the support they need close to home.’

Professor Lovegrove said that significant efficiencies will be gained by not duplicating teaching resources. By using existing TAFE facilities students enrolled externally will have the added benefit of accessing a range of support services which normally would not be available because of their remoteness from USQ’s campuses.

‘By combining USQ’s online capabilities and expertise as well as TAFE Queensland’s physical and vocational resources and its local knowledge of the vocational educational and training sector we will be able to develop a 21st Century teaching model that utilises flexible and interactive platforms at their best, without the significant cost and restructuring involved in establishing a dual-sector institution.’

Professor Lovegrove said that both TAFE and USQ will also benefit by being able to jointly market courses that give seamless transition into degree programs and expand on the number of articulation pathways that are already in place.

‘Apart from the obvious advantages to students the agreement will allow staff to cultivate opportunities for collaboration in teaching exchanges, professional development and course initiatives that contribute to regional economic development.’

Assistant Director General TAFE Queensland Ms Carol Webb said, ‘TAFE Queensland institutes are enthusiastic about the opportunities to bring more Higher Education opportunities and pathways to regional Queensland residents through this relationship with USQ.’

The QTEPnet agreement will involve significant collaboration with the six key regional and outer-metropolitan institutes of Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE, Wide Bay Institute of TAFE, Mt Isa Institute of TAFE, Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE and The Bremer Institute of TAFE, and the three metropolitan institutes of Skillstech Australia, Brisbane North Institute of TAFE and Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE.

Contact Details:
Dr Aidan J Burke | Director Corporate Communications
Tel: 07 46 31 2313 | Mob: 0412 647 004