A HUB with campus-style facilities for students who study online will be established in Swan Hill.
Country University Centre has a network of learning and study spaces to help students in regional and remote areas access higher education, without having to leave their community.
The Swan Hill Country University Centre was announced among eight centres to be established in 2022/23.
Swan Hill Council chief executive Scott Barber said there was delight that after an extensive finding application process, the centre had been approved.
“The centre will be an asset for our community and a real game changer for our local residents,” he said.
Mr Barber said the application was in response to a pressing need to increase availability and access to higher education opportunities for all members of the community, particularly young people.
“Our new Swan Hill-based Country University Centre will help address one of the biggest challenges faced by regional and remote university students – the absence of a campus environment that provides a safe study space, and face-to-face support,” he said.
“This exciting new facility will address the needs of both current and aspiring local students across the region currently facing unique higher education study challenges, including high costs to relocate for study and the associated social dislocation.”
University centres can provide study spaces, breakout areas, video conferencing, computer facilities and high-speed internet access, as well as administrative and academic support services, such as student support, pastoral support, study advice and help accessing other services.
Swan Hill Mayor Les McPhee said the undisclosed, three-year funding included two full-time positions.
“The next stage is to set up a body corporate to oversee this facility,” he said.
“We believe this is only the third of this type of facility in Victoria.
“They have identified a preferred location inside a current building so are dealing with the owner.”
Cr McPhee said the funding didn’t allow for new building to be built.
“This will keep young people connected to their hometown, studying, playing sport locally and most importantly, keeping the local economy ticking over with jobs,” he said.
“One less person leaving the area to go off to Melbourne and the big regional centres to universities, is one less job that becomes vacant.”
Mr Barber said the application had received widespread support across the community.
“I’m excited by the prospect of offering students the option to stay, study and grow within their home town,” he said.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster welcomed the announcement, saying it supported students who study tertiary courses online at any Australian institution.
“This is a fantastic initiative to help keep our best and brightest students local,” Dr Webster said.
“The issue of losing students to the city for study and never seeing them again is something that touches numerous industries in Mallee – particularly the health sector for example.
“Anything that gives Mallee students the option to study locally and hopefully down the track enter the workforce here is going to be beneficial for our region.”
Program objectives
The Regional University Centre program aims to:
• Enable students in rural, regional and remote Australia to access and complete higher education without having to leave their community
• Meet a demonstrated gap in support for study in a regional, rural or remote community
• Support students who wish to stay in their community while they complete their course of study
• Enhance the experience of students studying within their own community
• Encourage strong links between the centres and other organisations in the area, including other support services that students may access and industry
• Complement, rather than replace, existing and planned university investments and activities in regional areas, such as satellite campuses and study centres
