Orientation encourages USC’s 500 new students
The University of the Sunshine Coast has welcomed its latest intake of 500 students with an encouraging message about their strong employment prospects.
USC’s Mid-year Orientation Week kicked off yesterday with a range of social and study-related activities and a special address by USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM.
Professor Thomas congratulated the new students on making the decision to further their education, 
saying there were rewards ahead for “knowledge workers”.
He said employment opportunities for university-educated people were improving like never before as many countries, including the emerging economies of China and India, were developing knowledge economy strategies.
“All of the strategies internationally are predicated on the need for there being more knowledge workers in the century ahead,” Professor Thomas said. “There is nothing like the passport of a degree to take you into the workplace.”
USC’s Mid-year Orientation activities will continue throughout the rest of the week.
Today’s activities will include presentations about study information, tutorials on using the library and USC’s computer network, campus tours, a lunch party from noon-2pm and a fun “World Cup” soccer match from 2pm for students to represent their country of origin.
On Friday, students will travel to Fraser Island for a weekend camp at USC’s Dilli Village Environmental Education Camp.
— Kerry Brown