Content
USC gains grants for international projects
The University of the Sunshine Coast has received almost $1.5 million to conduct four international development projects in the latest round of AusAID funding under the Australian Leadership Awards-Fellowships program.
It’s the biggest single-round approval granted by the Australian Government’s overseas development agency to USC’s International Projects Group (IPG), which manages a diverse range of projects across the University’s faculty areas.
USC Professor Emeritus Merv Hyde, who is IPG Academic Director, described it as an amazing outcome.
“These grants under the Australian Leadership Award Fellowships are very competitive among academic institutions, research organisations, business, industry, media, professional associations and Government agencies across the country,” he said.
“USC’s success reflects our track record in pursuing projects that make a difference to key individuals who then take the knowledge back to their developing nations.”
Two of the projects are new and two are in ongoing areas.
They will involve teachers and principals from Papua and West Papua in Indonesia attending USC for three months to build skills in areas such as leadership, management and information technology.
Members of Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism also will work with the University’s Sustainability Research Centre to boost their executive knowledge and leadership capacity to foster sustainable tourism in their country.
Professor Hyde said there were myriad benefits for the University and the Sunshine Coast as it assisted in the social, economic and environmental development of other countries.
“A major benefit is the increase in research output as our academic staff and postgraduate students become involved in both the project operations on campus and the follow-up analysis done in the partner country,” he said.
He said the projects enhanced cultural relations as firm friendships and professional links formed between participants and University staff.
The projects also showcased the assets of the Sunshine Coast and strengthened USC’s links with regional schools, colleges, industry bodies and medical facilities.
– Julie Gatehouse