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Media Release

November 28, 2005

Flagship degrees focus on small business

Small business is big business in South Australia, with small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) comprising 99.5 per cent of the state’s private business sector (ABS 2002).

After extensive research into the needs of regional businesses, the University of South Australia (UniSA) is launching a suite of new Business and Enterprise degree programs for delivery in Mount Gambier in 2006.

UniSA’s Director of Regional Engagement, Professor Len Pullin, says the innovative programs are filling an important business niche.

“The programs are providing students with the opportunity to develop a broad range of finance and management skills essential to small and medium based enterprises,” Prof Pullin said.

“Graduates of the program will be able to successfully operate and manage an SME and begin to build their own business enterprises – something vital to regional areas.

“This kind of program hasn’t been offered before and was commended by the university’s academic board which is responsible for approving all new programs.”

The new Business and Enterprise degree will also incorporate a distinct workplace practicum component in the final year of study.

“UniSA is committed to helping students to develop real-world skills, and employers were also advising us that this would be an important component to incorporate into the new degree … so we did,” Prof Pullin said.

“As one employer told us … ‘it’s important that students are not immune to the earthier sides of business’.”

Professor Pullin said two new two-year associate degree programs were also being introduced, providing specialist studies in accounting or business enterprises.

“This means that students can gain a recognised university level qualification, take a specialisation in either accounting or business ventures and still be employable after two years of study.”

All three programs will commence next year at Mount Gambier and applications can still be lodged through SATAC. Prospective students can study in either full-time or part-time mode, with several courses offered in the evenings.

LAUNCH: The new Business and Enterprise degree programs will be officially launched this Wednesday November 30 at 3pm, upstairs in the College Room at the Old Town Hall, Commercial Street (East), Mount Gambier.

INFORMATION SESSION: An information session will be held at on Wednesday December 7 at 7pm at the Mount Gambier TAFE conference room or prospective students can call the Mount Gambier Regional Centre staff on (08) 8735 1478 for further enquiries. (UniSA is co-located at the TAFE SA Mount Gambier campus.)

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