Regional Engagement Forum 2010

The 2nd Annual Regional Tertiary Education Forum

Wednesday, 28th April 2010, National Wine Centre of Australia

8.00 Registration opens & coffee is served

8.50 Welcome & introduction from the Forum Hosts

Dr. Sharon Winocur, Executive Director, Business Higher Education Round Table
Prof. Scott Bowman, Vice Chancellor, Central Queensland University

9.00 Introduction: Taking advantage of change

• How is changing education/innovation policy impacting regional institutions?
• How can we make sure that government reforms benefit our institutions as well as the wider communities that they serve?

Prof. Scott Bowman, Vice Chancellor, Central Queensland University

IMPLEMENTING GOVERNMENT POLICY - COMPACTS

9.40 Will regional universities benefit from compacts?

• Developing mission-based compacts: a) teaching and learning component and; b) research training component
• How will the social inclusion agenda be incorporated into the compact arrangements?
• What specific issues must be considered when developing compacts with regional institutions? e.g. the challenge of higher-cost provision for regional areas
• Will issues specific to regional universities be taken into account?

10.10 Morning tea

SOCIAL INCLUSION FOR REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS

10.30 Building sustainable, scalable, and integrated engagement strategies for low-SES students

Jack Goodman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tutoring Australasia

10.50 Social inclusion: expanding access to tertiary education in rural areas

• Why rural and regional institutions will be central in delivering the new social equity participation targets?
• What are some of the strategies that may be effective eg partnerships with local institutions and community groups?
• Is the target realistic?

Prof. Hal Swerissen, Pro Vice Chancellor Regional, La Trobe University

11.20 A TAFE Perspective on Social Incluson

Dr. Peter Whitley, CEO, Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE

11.50 Sharing ideas and strategies to improve access and participation

Rosemary Campbell, Director, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute

12.20 Lunch

ENGAGEMENT & COLLABORATION WITH REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS

1.20 Successful pathways

• Access and participation in pathway programs new VET/ university partnerships; new university/university partnerships; universities/ private providers
• Completion rates in VET courses does partnering encourage completion and encourage students to further their studies at a university level?
• Designing courses and pathway programs that optimise learning and increase student satisfaction
• Examples of successful partnerships between institutions that want to increase the success of pathway processes and programs?

Robin Shreeve, CEO, Skills Australia

1.50 Collaboration panel - Developing partnership models in regional areas

• What needs to be done to improve relationships between tertiary institutions and business?
• What are some good examples of collaboration?
• What is attractive to businesses in forming partnerships with institutions?
• Maintaining partnerships in the regional context

Prof. David Battersby, Vice-Chancellor,The University of Ballarat

2.20 Supporting the economic sustainability of regional areas through partnerships

• Responsibility, leadership and action institutions taking initiative
• Designing partnerships with the future of the regional in mind
• Case study Notre Dames Kimberley Education and Resource Centre, partnering with the local government in the Kimberley area

Prof. Lyn Henderson-Yates, Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of Notre Dame Australia

2.50 Discussing engagement and collaboration strategies with the audience

3.10 Afternoon tea

STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

3.30 International student perceptions - insights from a study of over 6,000 prospective, current and recently graduated international students

• Student buyer behaviour
• Student and country profiles
• Experience, satisfaction, intention
• Future career aspirations

Ben Holgate, Senior Marketing Manager, IDP Education

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

4.00 Regional universities and regional development

• Regional perceptions of the contribution of regional campuses
• Innovation, skills development and educational aspiration
• The presentation draws on findings from a survey of Deakins partners in south western Victoria

Professor Sue Kilpatrick, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Rural and Regional), Deakin University

4.30 Audience questions & closing remarks from the Hosts

Prof. Scott Bowman, Vice Chancellor, Central Queensland University Dr. Sharon Winocur, Executive Director, Business Higher Education Round Table

4.45 End of 2nd annual B-Hert Regional Tertiary Education Forum