Council, CQU push plans for uni expansion in CBD
Date published: 3 June 2016
Townsville will target expanding education markets in Asia with plans to establish an inner-city campus for up to 5000 international and local students in the city’s CBD.
Mayor Cr Jenny Hill and Central Queensland University Vice chancellor Scott Bowman announced the initiative to visiting mayors and senior dignitaries from Sister Cities in Japan and China attending the Asia Pacific Market Forum in Townsville today.
Cr Hill said the CQU plan had the potential to drive major new development and jobs in Townsville’s Waterfront PDA and increase the city’s cultural and economic profile in Asia.
“Townsville is the biggest city in northern Australia and we’ve got to think big,” Cr Hill said.
“CQU are making a huge commitment to Townsville’s future by working in partnership with the council to create an exciting and vibrant educational and innovation precinct in Townsville’s CBD.
“Together with the private development industry, we have an opportunity to create a second major university campus in the city to attract thousands of students from Asia, and drive the development of the inner-city area.
“Council’s strategic purchases of the North Yards and the former railway land along Ross Creek, mean we are ideally placed to attract new development opportunities for the city.
“The development of facilities and accommodation for a major new university campus in the CBD is a perfect fit for our Waterfront PDA vision.
“Today’s forum has provided the ideal opportunity to announce and promote the proposal with mayors and senior officials from our Sister Cities in Asia.”
CQU Vice Chancellor Scott Bowman said the university would become a growing force in Townsville.
“Because CQUniversity offers both degrees and vocational training it can meet all requirements of international students and this is one of the key reasons that it will put Townsville on the map as a major international study destination,” Mr Bowman said.
CU’s Associate Vice Chancellor Kari Abouin said: “This partnership provides exciting opportunities for our CQU Townsville campus to grow not only programs for international students but also have available more programs for local students. The number and diversity of the student population as it grows will add a vibrancy to the CBD seen in many thriving university towns in Australia and overseas.
A recent report by Deloitte Access Economics estimated the overall export value of international education to be $19.7 billion 2014-15 and supported more than 130,700 full time equivalent (FTE) employees.
Today’s Asia Pacific Market Forum was attended by more than 80 delegates from Changshu and Foshan in China, and Iwaki and Shunan in Japan, as well as 60 local and regional business representatives, and banking and investment specialists.
Visiting dignitaries include the mayor of Shunan City, Mr Kenishi Kimura, mayor of Iwaki City, Mr Toshio Shimizu, Japanese Consul-General Mr Hidehiro Hosaka, Madam Qin Weixing, president of the Standing Committee of Changshu People’s Congress and Mr Yang Xiaoguang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Foshan City.
The forum featured addresses from Mark Bennett, head of Agribusiness Australia, ANZ, Adam Stevenson, General Manager of Queensland Operations Division of Trade and Investment Queensland and mayors and representatives of the Sister Cities.
Delegates and entertainers from the Sister Cities are in Townsville as part of the city’s T150 celebrations and will take part in the Pacific Festival tonight and tomorrow night.
