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ALBURY-WODONGA
Home > Regional News > Albury-Wodonga
Sneaking a peek at new student accommodation
18 Nov 2008
.jpg) Construction of the new 200-bed residential development for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students is nearly complete on the University’s Thurgoona site, and CSU students and staff will be able to inspect some of the new facilities on Thursday 20 November. On completion, ten modular concrete and corrugated iron buildings will each house 20 students in self-catering accommodation. The development will include ‘open plan’ kitchens and living areas in each block, with two buildings enclosing an open courtyard. The corrugated iron, which is light, strong, adaptable and durable, shields the internal concrete walls from the summer heat, enabling the buildings to maintain a more constant temperature without the use of expensive air conditioning. Rainwater collected from roofs will be used to flush toilets, while wastewater, or ‘grey water’, from kitchens and bathrooms will be pumped into the existing grey water treatment ponds on the Thurgoona site. Three buildings totalling 120 beds will be completed by the start of the academic year in February 2009, with a further 80 beds to be ready by April.
Media Note: Media will be able to tour the new student facilities at 10.30am on Thursday 20 November. Meet at the CSU Media office, Gordon Beavan building, Leahy St, Thurgoona to take a tour. Print this story Educational opportunities in Griffith
18 Nov 2008
An information session will be held in Griffith on Thursday 20 November by TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Griffith City Council for those interested in studying the integrated Diploma to Degree program. The three year program is currently offered through Riverina Institute’s Griffith Campus. Combining university and TAFE studies, the program enables students to gain a Bachelor of Business Studies through CSU as well as three further nationally recognised qualifications including a Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Management and a Certificate IV in Frontline Management through Riverina Institute. “Students benefit from expert tuition from both TAFE and university lecturers and have access to the resources and facilities of both institutions,” explained Riverina Institute’s Head of Griffith Campus, Mr Tony McBride. “The integrated program is proving an excellent model for delivering high quality education and student support,” said CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ross Chambers.
Media Note: The information session will be held this Thursday 20 November from 6pm at the Gemini Hotel, Banna Avenue, Griffith. Further information is available from Ms Anne Lyons on 02 6962 0456. Print this story Social development in Asia-Pacific
18 Nov 2008
 Increasing awareness of the social development needs of the Asia-Pacific region is one of the aims of an international conference being co-organised by Associate Professor Manohar Pawar from Charles Sturt University (CSU). The conference, which will be held in Nepal from Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 November, is held biennially by the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD). Professor Pawar, from the CSU Institute for Land, Water and Society, is president of the ICSD Asia-Pacific branch. “This conference, with its themes of social development, transition and local partnerships, is being held at a time of international financial uncertainty,” said Professor Pawar. “Some world leaders have responded by pleading for global partnership and cooperation to deal with the financial crisis, though the whole world may not be responsible for such a crisis. Similar to the financial crisis, the world is experiencing severe and intensive crises such as poverty and hunger, climate change, disasters and drought, war and violence, and mass displacement of people. It is also timely to call for global partnership and cooperation to attack these crises.”
Media Note: The conference, Social Development and Transition: Paths for Global Local Partnerships will be held at the Dhulikhel Lodge Resort in Kathmandu, Nepal. The program can be found here ( CMS/document store/ISCD speakers program .doc ). Further information about the International Consortium for Social Development Asia Pacific branch can be found here. Conference co-organiser, Associate Professor Manohar Pawar will depart CSU at Wagga Wagga for Nepal on Friday 21 November. Among the guest speakers for the three day event is social activist, Ms Medha Patkar, from India. Her awards include the Right Livelihood Award, the Green Ribbon Award from the BBC, and Amnesty International Award for Human Rights Defenders. Print this story New scholarships for regional learning
18 Nov 2008
 Charles Sturt University (CSU) will offer 20 scholarships that encourage joint studies between the University and TAFE colleges. The CSU Rural Learning Partnership Scholarships, each worth $2 000 for one year, are aimed at full-time students in need of financial assistance who are completing such courses such as the Bachelor of Business Studies in Griffith. Students with disabilities, from non-English speaking backgrounds or who are Indigenous are encouraged to apply for the competitive grants which can pay for accommodation, tuition fees, books and computers. CSU’s Head of School of Business and Information Studies, Associate Professor John Atkinson, said the Rural Learning Partnership Scholarships aim to redress some of the current financial inequities of tertiary study in regional Australia by helping students with genuine financial difficulties. The scholarships will be launched in Griffith on Thursday 20 November by CSU and NSW TAFE Riverina Institute at an integrated Business program information session.
Media Note: For interviews with Head of the School of Business and Information Studies, Associate Professor John Atkinson, contact CSU Media. The integrated Business program information session will be held at the Gemini Hotel, Griffith, from 6 to 7pm on Thursday 20 November. Print this story Ten years for Indigenous education expo
11 Nov 2008
 Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Murray School of Education will celebrate ten years of providing Indigenous educational experiences for its early childhood education students in Lavington on Wednesday 12 November. The CSU students will provide 400 primary school students from Albury and Wodonga with a bush-tucker barbeque, face painting, boomerang making, clap-stick and bandana painting, cave construction, dance, music and storytelling, all based on Indigenous cultures. Wiradjuri spokesperson and CSU education lecturer, Yalmambirra, said the subject gave many students their first hands-on experiences of Indigenous cultures and that these were important for educating future teachers. The Indigenous cultural education day will be held between 9am and 2.30pm at Mirrambeena Community Centre, Martha Mews, Lavington (opposite the North Albury swimming pool).
Media Note: For pictures and interviews with CSU education lecturer Yalmambirra, contact CSU Media.
Print this story Big electricity bills motivate users to switch off
11 Nov 2008
2.jpg){kind=small} An initial survey of NSW households by a Charles Sturt University researcher has found most householders are looking at ways to become more energy efficient by using less electricity. However, while environmental concern is one reason people aim to reduce their usage, according to CSU postgraduate student Ms Jodie Kleinschafer it is the “larger than expected electricity bill” that is the more immediate motivator. “When ‘average’ householders get larger than expected electricity bills, they start to look for ways to reduce the electricity they use,” said Mrs Kleinschafer, who is undertaking a three year, $100 000 research project funded by Country Energy. So far, Mrs Kleinschafer has surveyed 80 households, and in conjunction with Country Energy will survey a further 4 000 regional NSW households in the next two months. She said the findings of her research would enable electricity retailers to manage increasing electricity demand in a way that still satisfies the needs of residential electricity consumers.
Media Note: For interviews contact the Media Office. Print this story New scheme falls into student laps
11 Nov 2008
Media Note: For interviews contact CSU Media. Print this story Time to correct mistakes of ABC
07 Nov 2008
 The appointment of receivers to manage the private childcare operator ABC Learning Centres represents a prime opportunity for the Rudd government to make right the mistakes of the past, according to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic. The childcare operator yesterday went into voluntary administration with the receivers assuring parents that the centres will remain open. “Many early childhood experts had expressed concern about the growing monopoly of ABC, particularly in regional areas,” said Senior Lecturer with the CSU School of Teacher Education Ms Fran Press. “The Commonwealth should show leadership by brokering a deal between the three levels of government and the community sector to ensure the survival of childcare places. Not only would this ensure the retention of much needed childcare places, it would put them in a good position to work toward the fulfilment of election promises concerning the provision of early childhood education.” The fact ABC currently has about 30 per cent of long day care places in Australia is unusual. “No other country entrusts so much childcare to just one provider,” said Ms Press.
Media Note: CSU lecturer Ms Fran Press is available for interview. She is based at CSU in Bathurst. Contact CSU Media on 0439 475 315
Print this story Future teachers showcase their skills
05 Nov 2008
Cultural awareness in the classroom, and the importance of incorporating cultural awareness and understanding at an early age, is among topics to be presented at a conference today, Wednesday 5 November, by trainee teachers finishing their final year in education at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga. Teachers and members of the public have been invited to attend the ‘ECON 2008: Teachers of the Future’ conference to learn about the students’ work and learning over the past four years. The conference includes guest speakers Professor Jennifer Sumsion, Sub Dean of CSU’s Faculty of Education, and Assistant Principal at Melrose Primary School in Wodonga, Ms Maree Geoghegan. ECON 2008 will runs from 4 to 8.30pm in the CSU Cliff Blake Lecture Theatre complex, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.
Media Note: For interviews, contact CSU Media. Print this story Pros and cons of genetically modified crops
04 Nov 2008
As part of its mission to develop productive and efficient agricultural systems, the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Department of Primary Industries, is holding a working breakfast about genetically modified (GM) crops and their projected impact. Organiser and CSU post-doctoral fellow, Dr Rex Stanton, says the event is targeted at farmers, advisors and consultants and will feature two speakers who will share their international knowledge of GM crops. “Suzanne Warwick is a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who researches weed and crop evolution and is studying the environmental impact of commercially released GM modified canola crops,” he said. “Culcairn farmer and 2007 Nuffield Scholar, Mr Murray Scholz, will explain his recent study of the implications of herbicide tolerant GM crops on weed management in North America, Europe and South America.”
Media Note: The breakfast will run from 8.00am to 9.30am on Thursday 6 November at the Conference Room, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga. Contact Dr Rex Stanton on (02) 6938 1618 to arrange interviews. Print this story |
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The tapping sound of typing is replacing the rustle of paper and scratching of pens across lecture theatres in regional Australia as students purchase laptop computers though Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) rebate scheme. CSU is offering a $300 rebate to on campus undergraduate students who purchase a laptop for their studies. Lecturers welcome the rebate scheme. Head of CSU at Dubbo, Mr Gary Shipp, said “The scheme is designed to encourage and assist students make the most of accessing university online systems when visiting and studying on campus. Distance students can take advantage of the scheme when required to attend compulsory residential schools on campus. I hope it will make note taking and assessment writing easier for our students."