Special Projects
The Open Access College is involved in the following projects which support diverse community groups. These projects are designed to make the transition into university life a smooth and fulfilling process.
Enabling Pathways Conference
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) hosted the 3rd Australian Enabling Conference from 25 - 27 November 2009. Simply themed 'Enabling Pathways', the conference attracted a wide range of delegates from many different educational sectors including, universities, further education college, polytechnics, Indigenous, international, prison and disenfranchised youth programs.
Refereed conference proceedings are available.
Resources Redistribution
The Resources Redistribution project is designed to collect supplementary resource books for offenders in custody. Bi-Annually a call for excess or superseded and used textbooks will be extended to the USQ community to request donation of books and these will be distributed to various prisons around Queensland. Educational resources for all areas of academic study are difficult for prisoners to access, so these books are greatly appreciated.
For further details contact Sue Bishop.
Offenders in Custody
The Offenders in Custody project aims to attract more incarcerated members of the community to study within the Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP). On successful completion of the prerequisite subjects in the TPP program, these students can enrol in undergraduate studies at USQ that do not require internet access.
For further details contact Clare Robinson.
Flexi- School
The FlexiSchool Project offers unique opportunities for teaching students in alternative education situations. FlexiSchool has begun a Virtual Classroom project designed to enable students to undertake some of their academic programs/life skills online. FlexiSchool is a unique and successful community based education initiative that is closely aligned with the social inclusion focus for education. The unique situation represented by the school poses numerous opportunities for valuable research and engagement to the mutual benefit of both USQ and the participants.
For further details contact Tas Bedford.
TPP in Schools Project
The TPP in Schools project provides students with a taste of the preparation required for university, including academic reading, writing and research. It is designed to prepare them for tertiary studies.
For further details contact Tas Bedford.
Sudanese Project
The Refugee Student Support Project involves supporting the success of USQ’s refugee student population throughout the university and in the community. The Refugee Support Officer can assist prospective students with gaining admission to the university and with academic and administrative support throughout their university careers. There is a regular Study Group and individual consultation is also available. Students can obtain help with a wide range of activities, for example, preparing an effective resume, using a computer, accessing StudyDesk and liaison with external authorities.
For further details contact Sue Bishop (Refugee Support and Student Inclusion Officer) or Jessamyn Clarke.
Non Progression of TPP Students
Non Progression of TPP Students Project involves the study of strategies to address factors that contribute to the non-progression of students from USQ's Tertiary Preparation Program (TTP) to USQ undergraduate programs.
For further details contact Tas Bedford.
ZUST and ZUCC Partnerships
The Open Access College has a strong and significant educational partnership with the Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST) and Zhehiang University City College (ZUCC) in Hangzhou, China. ZUST and ZUCC academic staff teach the OAC EAPprogram in English to Chinese students. These students upon successful completion of the EAPprogram then continue their undergraduate studies at ZUST and ZUCC through enrolment in USQ’s Bachelor of Information Technology.