Welcome from the Director
Many of the exciting developments for this State are occurring in regional areas – mining exploration and operations, agricultural developments and energy and transport initiatives. These projects cannot be successful in the longer term unless there are strong regional communities to provide the expertise and supporting services to underpin them. As a university, our strategic goals are to make a real and tangible contribution to regional South Australia’s social and economic development…and we believe we are achieving these goals.
The University of South Australia prioritised regional engagement as a strategic direction in 2004. In 2005 the University established the Centre for Regional Engagement to focus its engagement activities in South Australian regional areas. As a result, the Centre for Regional Engagement provides quality teaching, learning and scholarship in its regional locations in Whyalla and Mount Gambier. We have teams of dedicated academic and professional staff who service the educational needs of these communities in the same way as the University services students studying in our Adelaide campuses.
The Centre for Regional Engagement undertakes research endeavours with business, industry and community partners that reflect rural and regional priorities and interests. We are very proud of research centres and projects that have been established in conjunction with our partners in recent years and expect more to be achieved in the near future. We are leaders in a range of research initiatives focussed on community development, rural health and indigenous issues.
Underlying the Centre’s activities is the University’s commitment to the active development and growth of regional communities at an intellectual, social and economic level. As an example, we are investing in both Whyalla and Mount Gambier communities through infrastructure developments on both campuses.
Studying at a regional location such as Whyalla and Mount Gambier provides a unique University experience where smaller class sizes often lead to more personalized interactions between staff and students. They are also complemented by an enriched sense of community.
I warmly welcome you to your studies with the CRE in Whyalla and Mount Gambier and wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.
Professor Neil Otway Director: Centre For Regional Engagement