Agreement to help address skills shortages
The University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE this week signed an important agreement to help address skill shortages in the region.
This agreement is set to benefit both school leavers and mature-age students through the future development of new joint USC-SCIT programs in areas with high student demand and strong employment prospects.
It also will support a more seamless transition for students between the two institutions as well as the development of major infrastructure, including community and sporting facilities.
The agreement was signed on Thursday 12 July by USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM and Sunshine Coast TAFE Acting Institute Director Joe Willis.
Professor Thomas said students often were not interested in boundaries between universities and TAFE, only how areas of study could be complementary.
“Strengthening our collaboration will move us closer to seamlessness for students,” he said.
“There are so many ways in which we can work even more collaboratively, and this agreement will accelerate that process."
Mr Willis said the agreement would provide many exciting benefits and opportunities for students.
“The signing of this agreement represents a new era in education for the Sunshine Coast community,” he said.
“This collaboration will benefit both organisations and our students by allowing us to share resources and infrastructure and also explore further education opportunities.”