About 300 representatives of community, government and academe — including Queensland Premier Peter Beattie — celebrated a Smart State success story at UQ Ipswich on Friday, October 10.
The University of Queensland’s Ipswich campus is nearly five years old. And Phase One — the three-stage, $51 million development which transformed the former Challinor Centre site into a futuristic, totally Web-enabled campus — is finished.
The October 10 celebration included tributes from Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, Ipswich City Acting Mayor Paul Pisasale and the University’s Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development).
Mr Beattie also opened Building Eight, an innovative three-level, $9.27 million structure where the central ceiling soars above an indoor garden and stream before extending to shelter the Library, administrative offices and student services.
UQ Ipswich has forged exceptionally valuable community partnerships while building an enviable academic reputation, according to Professor Trevor Grigg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development).
Ipswich City Council, the Friends of UQ Ipswich and the UQ Ipswich Strategic Advisory Group were staunch supporters, he said, while the UQ Ipswich Community Service and Research Centre (CSRC) had notched up involvements with about 220 local organisations during the past five years.
Last year CSRC won a $20,000 UQ teaching award for its Graduate Certificate in Social Science (Interprofessional Leadership). This was designed in cooperation with community leaders as a result of the Goodna Service Integration Project, completed in March this year.
“When we look back on what we said we were going to do, it’s very satisfying to find that we’ve not only done it, in many cases we’ve turned out something better,” Professor Grigg said.
“We’re approaching the end of our fifth year of operations with nearly five times as many enrolments when we opened in 1999, and many of our 550 graduates not just in jobs of their choice but making waves in the marketplace.
“Just this week a 2001 Bachelor of Business Communication graduate, Sara Seckold, was named Telstra Queensland Young Business Woman of the Year.”
Professor Grigg said course offerings were expanding rapidly and included Australian firsts such as the Middle Years of Schooling program launched in 2003.
“Our academics are excelling in research as well as teaching,” he said. “For example, a Contemporary Studies lecturer is about to publish a second book analysing popular culture, and six of the 11 full-time academics in our Business Communications program have won Australian Research Council Linkage Grants.
“This campus is shaping up well, and it’s fitting to celebrate a milestone like this in the company of those who helped shape and achieve the vision.”
Media: For more information, contact Professor Trevor Grigg (telephone 3365 7366) or Moya Pennell, UQ Communications (telephone 3365 2846, email m.pennell@uq.edu.au).
