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 Australias 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. In conjunction with the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, the Centre hosts one of the University's research centres, the Centre for Rural Health and Community Development (CRHaCD). CRHaCD has developed a number of significant research projects in recent years, taking a range of research initiatives focussed on community development, rural health, resource management and indigenous issues. It also provides supervision of around 20 PhD and Honours students.
Underlying the Centres 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 regional locations 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. Studies can also be complemented by an enriched sense of community.
The presence of a University campus within a regional setting can be a vital stimulus not only to the uptake of higher education within the region but also to a wide range of economic, social and cultural developments. It is the intention of the Centre for Regional Engagement to place itself at the heart of regional development and to be at the forefront of meeting the ongoing challenges faced within rural and regional South Australia.
Professor Guy Robinson Director: Centre For Regional Engagement