University of Southern Queensland

Información

The University of Southern Queensland is a leader in flexible learning, has a significant profile in regionally relevant research and is closely engaged with its communities.
History

The institution opened in 1967, originally as an Institute of Technology and later developed as a College of Advanced Education. It was redesignated as a university in 1992. The USQ has changed significantly since that time – building its research and postgraduate programs, expanding its international profile, and growing as a multi-campus institution – but it has retained its foundation values of putting the student first, building employment readiness in its graduates and building community.

A multi-campus university

USQ has a well-resourced main campus in the city of Toowoomba, and many regional support offices throughout Australia and in other countries where we offer our awards programs. There is a well-equipped campus at  Hervey Bay, serving the Fraser Coast region and a growing campus at Springfield.  

Learning and teaching

USQ offers award programs at undergraduate and postgraduate level by on-campus, off-campus or online study. Many students choose different modes of delivery for different periods of their study. We believe that flexible delivery is about giving people what they want, where they want it, when they want it, in their style, in their place, in their time. We are regional, flexible and international.

The University has over 26 000 enrolments, including around 7500 international students. More than 120 nationalities are represented and about 5000 international students study USQ programs in their home countries.

Awards and accolades

USQ was awarded the Commonwealth of Learning Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement at the third Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning, in July 2004. Other awards include the Joint Winner of the Good Universities Guides' University of the Year: 2000-2001 Award and in 1999, USQ won the Inaugural Award for Excellence from the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), as a world leader in 'dual mode' (on-campus and off-campus) education.

Research

The University has strong research programs in such areas as sustainability, rural health, innovative fibre composites technologies, systems biology and computational engineering. It is renowned for its performing and visual arts programs and is a world leader in online learning technologies and pedagogy.

Governance and organisational structure

USQ's governing body is the Council whose members contribute by helping set strategic directions and developing policy. The Council is chaired by the Chancellor. The University has in place organisational and committee structures that ensure efficient and effective operations.

Planning and reporting

The Planning and Quality Office coordinates the University’s activities in the areas of planning, quality, review and reporting.

An Annual Report which is presented to Queensland Parliament by Command, not only provides an overview of our performance in the previous year, but highlights who we are and what we hope to achieve in the future.

Institutional approach

Overall, the University has embraced the need for change implicit in an educational environment that is highly competitive, and dominated by the evolution of global communications technologies. It intends to remain flexible to meet the needs of learners throughout Australia and internationally. It will meet these needs without compromise to the quality and integrity of its programs and standards.