Uni campus for Hay?
A Country Universities Centre has been mooted for Hay.
General Manager, David Webb said this could well be a possibility in the not-too-distant future. Early analysis forecasts that a CUC in Hay could have 10 students in its first year and 22 by the fourth year of operation, with the opportunity to partner with renewable energy projects across the region.
Mayor Carol Oataway and the General Manager attended a briefing in Deniliquin in December last year regarding the establishment of a Country Universities Centre (CUC) in the Southern Riverina, including a campus in Hay.
“A Country Universities Centre in Hay promises to ignite a spark of opportunity, breaking down barriers and opening doors to tertiary education that may seem out of reach to many,” Cr Oataway said.
“It brings with it the chance to transform lives and shape the future of the community. This is an exciting prospect for Hay.”
Council is working with Edward River, Berrigan and Murray River Councils to establish CUCs in Hay, Berrigan, Finley, Deniliquin and Moama, to be known as the Southern Riverina CUC.
A working party incorporating Mayors, General Managers, local industry and the CUC itself is being formed to progress this exciting initiative for Hay and the region, including establishing Boards and finding suitable accommodation to house the campus in each town.
“Regional and rural communities deserve quality opportunities to pursue their dreams without the need to relocate,” Mr Webb said. “In 2013, the Cooma community wanted to create a solution that would support its local students to achieve their educational aspirations, and inject knowledge and qualifications into the local workforce.
“The Cooma Universities Centre was born and since then, along with a re-branding in 2017, the number of CUCs has grown to 11 campuses with 1,000 students across NSW, including Griffith and Leeton, offering over 900 different courses through 40 Australian Universities and Colleges.
“The CUC is a dedicated learning and study space that has been designed for regional people by regional people.
“Students have free access to high-speed Internet, modern technology, and general academic support all delivered in their local CUC, with dedicated staff on hand to provide support.
“Students can build a network of like-minded fellow students and can take advantage of being part of a state-wide learning community.
“CUCs are community owned and governed, with their own local board providing place based solutions and aligning with regional strengths.”
Funded by a combination of Federal, State and Local Governments in conjunction with philanthropic and university partnerships, CUCs have seen over $3.8M in in-kind and community support.
The Country Universities Centres (CUCs) are playing a crucial role in tertiary education and skills development in regional NSW. In doing so they are also supporting the supply of local labour into the very tight labour markets of many of the state’s regions, where employers in all industries are competing fiercely for workers in short supply.
Anyone who is trying to recruit knows too well the shortage of qualified staff. The 2021 ABS statistics show that Hay is significantly behind the state in the percentage of the population with a degree or higher formal qualification, while it is much higher in the percentage of people with no formal qualifications
