Forum to Explore Job Creation
17 April 2004
Last night's Graduation Ceremony was the largest we have had,
with each year becoming bigger than the preceding year, and so it
will continue for a long time. Over 600 graduands had qualified and
a huge proportion, much larger than most Australian universities,
returned to receive their testamurs from the Chancellor.
Each year the number of graduands who secure jobs, especially
locally, is also increasing. It has always been our aim to attract
and retain graduate talent on the Coast, to contribute in a range
of ways to the development of the region. We have some regrets when
some of our best graduates reluctantly leave the Coast because they
receive better job offers elsewhere.
We would never expect all students to remain on the Coast.
Mobility is an in-built advantage of a degree, but for the many who
would like to remain here, we would like to see more job
opportunities opening up.
Many of our degree programs are built on close links with local
professions and businesses to enhance mutual understanding and
confidence and opportunities. We continue to increase these links,
and the job opportunities within the emerging Sippy Downs
technology precinct will hopefully accelerate that job-widening
process. Courses that emphasise creativity and entrepreneurship
will also encourage students themselves to create their own
businesses and become less reliant on others to offer them
jobs.
The links between business and higher education has for years
been the focus of BHERT (Business/Higher Education Round Table)
which, with this University, will be hosting a 'Regional Engagement
Forum' at the Innovation Centre on Friday 23 April. The Forum
builds on similar events at other regional centres around the
country. It will be an important Forum for different perspectives
to be aired about how business and universities can work even more
closely for mutual advantage.
The aim of the Forum is to bring together participants not just
from universities, but from all post-secondary providers both
public and private, TAFE, local government, regional business and
regional development State agencies.
The Forum is designed to increase the level of engagement
between business and post-secondary education providers, broaden
the insights into a variety of initiatives and suggest support
strategies, highlight the benefits of engagement and partnerships,
and explore possible gaps in the skills base in regional
Queensland.
Professor Ashley Goldsworthy has been a tireless leader of
BHERT, and he and Linda Lavarch, MP will open the Forum. They will
be joined by representatives of the Area Consultative Committee,
SunROC, CSIT, Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast Pty Ltd,
universities and business in a day where panel discussions and case
studies will predominate, leaving more time for interaction than
does the traditional lecture/presentation style of delivery.
It is through such fora that we will be able add another
dimension to increasing the complexity of the economic base of the
Sunshine Coast. Many University and CSIT graduates gain employment
on the Coast, and despite the number increasing, the overall number
of good jobs being created needs to increase even faster. We are
still exporting too much of the Coast's talent, and we need to
continue to take all the steps we can to inform the ways we
increase employment nearer to nationally acceptable levels.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice Chancellor of the University
of the Sunshine Coast