Geraldton Universities Centre to contribute to deep dive into Regional University Centres as key stakeholder

Geraldton Universities Centre is a key stakeholder, alongside Curtin University and the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, for a two-day inquiry into regional university centres hosted in Perth this week. Staff including student support managers, deans of learning and teaching across multiple faculties from all WA universities will join staff from GUC and the Department of Education on Thursday and Friday at Curtin University. Education Minister Tony Buti will be opening the event on Friday which is intended to “provide a rich exchange of information amongst regional university centres and WA universities,” according to GUC director Natalie Nelmes. “Workshop sessions will address how WA universities may work in tandem with WA RUCs and study hubs to improve opportunities for regional students and the regions they live in,” Ms Nelmes said. The workshops will cover four topics — aspiration building, enabling pathways, course delivery modes and workforce development. About 60 participants will be attending each day, with travel support received from the Mid West Development Commission, which has enabled four staff from GUC and the City of Greater Geraldton to attend. Ms Nelmes said the ideal outcome was to see an increased number of courses fully accessible in the regions through remote study. “We hope to be able to get some tangible outcomes. We will continue to engage with our RUC colleagues after the exchange, to report to the minister as we know that the universities will be,” she said. Ms Nelmes and staff from Curtin University would be submitting an abstract on the exchange for a presentation at the National Conference in RRR Education in Coffs Harbour in August.