Cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Moree Country Universities Centre (CUC) are Moree Plains Shire Council’s Mayor Katrina Humphries, CUC NW Centre Coordinator Sumati Chakravarti-Cook, CUC North West Manager Cathy Walters, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, CUC CEO Angus Taylor, CUC NW Chair and Mayor of Narrabri Shire Council Cathy Redding.
Friday, 6 September 2019
A STATE-OF-THE-ART facility to support tertiary education students with their studies has officially opened in Moree with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Deputy Premier John Barilaro today cutting the ribbon on the Country Universities Centre North West (CUCNW).
Mr Marshall said CUCNW would provide local students access to the best technology and support during their degree allowing them to chase their education dreams without leaving their home town.
“This CUC is going to be a game changer for the education of isolated students in the Northern Tablelands,” Mr Marshall said.
“Moree now has a facility which allows students to provide each other moral support and relieve the pressure of tertiary study and feeling of isolation that often comes with distance education.
“This CUC is equipped with multiple meeting rooms, high speed internet and staff who will deliver face-to-face academic advice over the period of their course.
“Living in regional NSW must not come at the expense of quality education and I am thrilled that almost 40 students have registered at the service since the CUCNW opened admissions in July.”
Mr Barilaro said hometown tertiary study helps people gain qualifications to meet local skills shortages.
“Moving away from your family, friends and life to study is a sacrifice not everyone is able to make and this centre will give students the opportunity to gain tertiary qualifications while continuing to be a part of the local community,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Regional industries are changing and the NSW Government wants to ensure towns like Moree have the education facilities on hand to train and upskill the workforce so it is ready to meet whatever challenges come their way,” Mr Barilaro said.
The NSW Government has invested $8 million in five County Universities Centres, including $1.3 million for the North West, with a further $8 million committed for an additional five centres in regional NSW.
Country Universities Centre CEO Duncan Taylor said the five open NSW Government supported facilities are helping more than 400 students complete their tertiary studies across a variety of degrees, including health, education, social work and community services, technology, agriculture and tourism.
“CUC provides people in regional NSW with the opportunity to transform themselves through education and it is truly inspiring that 46 per cent of our students are the first members of their family to study a university degree,” Mr Taylor said.
“98 per cent of the students studying through our other centres have told us they love the study facilities, services and support provided by staff, and I’d like to thank our centre staff and Board for their excellent work and the NSW Government for their ongoing support.
“We pride ourselves on offering group learning, support staff, a peer network, and helping to improve students’ academic results as well as increasing the pool of skilled, qualified workers for local industry and employers.”
The Country Universities Centre North West is based in both Moree and Narrabri.
For more information about Country Universities Centres visit www.cuc.org.au/