Southern Cross University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Rickard, will be joined by key representatives of the three tiers of Government when he officiates at a ‘Breaking of the Soil’ ceremony on the site of SCU’s new Tweed Campus this Wednesday, 31 January.
On hand to witness the historic community event will be the Federal MP for Richmond and Minister for Community Services, Hon. Larry Anthony, the State Member for Tweed, Hon. Neville Newell, and the Deputy Mayor of Tweed Shire, Councillor Robert Brinsmead. Members of the local community are also invited to attend the 2.00pm ceremony.
The $5.4 million campus, which adjoins the Tweed Heads Civic Centre and Library in Brett Street, was designed by architects Fulton Trotter & Partners of Brisbane and Tweed Heads and will be constructed by Brisbane-based Covecorp using a range of local sub-contractors.
The project incorporates the latest educational delivery technology, including high-level internet connectivity, interactive videoconferencing and desktop video technology linking with the University’s regional campuses. It will be completed in time for the first study semester of 2002.
“The Federal Government has played a very significant role in ensuring that this much-needed educational hub becomes a reality,” Professor Rickard said. He explained that $4.0 million of the funding had been provided through the Capital Development Pool (CDP) which assists universities across Australia to develop projects such as new campuses and infrastructure.
“The fact that we have received some ten per cent of the total CDP fund indicates the importance of this fast-growing area,” Professor Rickard added, paying tribute to the support received from Tweed Shire Council, which made the site available and approved its development, as well as the NSW Government.
“We all recognise the value to ourselves and society at large of having the best possible education,” he said. “However, many people are unable to leave their home towns or places of work to pursue tertiary studies elsewhere. This ideally-located campus will provide much enhanced access to residents of the Tweed and the Queensland border zone as well as further boosting our electronic delivery of distance programs.”
From 2002 the University will offer its Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Social Science degrees at the Tweed Campus as well as the Associate Degree in Writing, which can articulate in the full BA degree. The Graduate College of Management, which coordinates the highly regarded Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degrees will also be located at the new Campus.
