Federal Education Minister to open SCU's Tweed Gold Coast Campus

The Federal Minister for Education, Dr Brendan Nelson, will officially open Southern Cross University's new $7.4 million Tweed Gold Coast Campus on Tuesday, 16 April at 10.30am. The Minister will be accompanied by his Coalition colleague, the Richmond MP and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Hon. Larry Anthony.

The development of the Campus was facilitated by $4 million in funding from the Commonwealth's Capital Development Pool. The Campus has also benefited from gaining 20 of the new University places allocated this year by the Federal Government to regional Australia.

The Campus has already attracted more than 150 internal students in the Business and Social Science degree programs, with a further 150 external students accessing the electronic facilities.

The dedication of the Campus will also be attended by SCU's Chancellor, Dr Lionel Phelps, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Rickard and a range of local dignitaries, as well as SCU staff and many of the students who commenced their courses this year.

Professor Rickard said, ?This Campus is one of the nation's most technologically advanced educational facilities, incorporating the latest technology: from high-level Internet connectivity and interactive video-conferencing, to desktop video technology linked to our regional campuses, including the libraries.

?We are especially proud of the innovative partnerships that will make this campus such a success and appreciate the confidence shown by the Tweed-Gold Coast Community at many levels,? he said. ?A substantial funding commitment by the Commonwealth Government was vital for the development of a campus matching the needs of this community. We are pleased to have augmented Canberra's support with significant funding of our own.?

The Tweed Gold Coast Campus is focusing on Undergraduate programs in Business and Social Sciences, with postgraduate MBA and DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) programs being offered internally through SCU's Graduate College of Management.

The building was designed by award-winning architect Mark Trotter, of Fulton Trotter and Partners, now based in Brisbane. The design incorporates the fact the campus was built last year on land reclaimed from the Tweed River in the late 1960s, with the foyer having a river/marine life theme. On opening day, the Campus will exhibit a collection of historical photographs showing the area in its original state, taken by acclaimed local photographer, the late Fred Lang Snr. Campus Manager and Associate Dean, Professor Bryan Rothwell, said the display would include several important images not previously made public, some of which will be acquired for permanent exhibition.

Media enquiries: Professor Bryan Rothwell, Tweed Gold Coast Campus, Ph: (07) 5506 9200, or Sara Crowe, Media Liaison, Marketing & External Relations, SCU, Ph: (02) 6620 3144.

Website: http://www.scu.edu.au/about/campuses/tweedgc/index.html

For a photo of the architecture see: http://www.grape-shot-studios.com/gallery_arch5.htm.