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ALBURY-WODONGA
Home > Regional News > Albury-Wodonga
Twittering for online learning
20 Oct 2009
 New students enrolled in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario, Canada, are using the social networking system Twitter and email to communicate with their lecturer, Ms Jenni Munday. "As educators, we are constantly looking for new ways to create a sense of community for students who study by distance education. Using Twitter is a good way to create this community," says Ms Munday, who is based in Albury-Wodonga, Australia, at the CSU Murray School of Education. Each student joins Twitter and chooses to 'follow' the lecturer and all the other students, so everyone benefits from reading the tweets from each member of the group. “Students can ask each other questions and they receive feedback when devising their research questions for an upcoming assessment presentation. It is a more immediate way to study from afar,” Ms Munday concludes.
Media Note: For interviews with and pictures of Ms Munday, contact CSU Media. Print this story Can ants predict rain?
20 Oct 2009
Ants in the kitchen, ants on fence posts – are these sign that rain is imminent? “No”, says Australian ant researcher and Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student, Mr Wayne Robinson. “I hear these stories regularly, but it has never been scientifically proven that ants can predict rain. It has been seen, however, that some ant species react to other environmental cues, such as increasing day length or higher temperatures, and build up the entrances to their nests or move fertile male and queen ants to higher ground at the start of ‘normal’ rainy seasons. Ants don’t know it is going to rain; like our farmers, they are just hoping it will be a normal season.” Mr Robinson, who lectures in environmental science in Queensland, is currently at CSU at Albury-Wodonga to further his PhD studies of ants on Fraser Island off central Queensland. But Mr Robinson says he is still keeping an open mind on the subject. “As with any scientific research, the answer can be changed with new evidence.”
Media Note: For interviews with Mr Wayne Robinson, contact CSU Media. Mr Robinson is a researcher with the CSU Institute for Land, Water and Society. Print this story Enrolments increase in computing
07 Oct 2009
 Enrolments in information technology (IT) courses offered at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga increased significantly in the second half of 2009, says the Head of the University’s School of Computing and Mathematics, Associate Professor Irfan Altas. According to Professor Altas, demand from local businesses has also increased, with “the School constantly receiving inquiries from Border businesses to employ CSU graduates and students, some before they have even completed their courses. Local businesses who already have CSU graduates working for them have also congratulated us for preparing them to be ready for the workplace.” Professor Altas says CSU prepares IT and computing science graduates to work in the global marketplace as well as local businesses.
Media Note: For interviews, contact CSU Media. Print this story Dancing his way into Albury-Wodonga
07 Oct 2009
 Dance is the message this week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga when Mr Philip Piggin from Canberra Dance Theatre visits Albury. Mr Piggin will present a public lecture, entitled ’Why Dance? A short taste of the learning, empowerment and joy that can be found through dance’, on Wednesday 7 October in the Cliff Blake auditorium at CSU’s Thurgoona site. “Visiting artists enhance the culture of our campus and the wider community also benefits by participating in sessions with the artist. Philip Piggin has a strong connection to the CSU community and Albury-Wodonga,” said acting Head of the Murray School of Education, Ms Jenni Munday. Mr Piggin will take dance workshops with CSU students from the Murray School of Education and the School of Community Health, the new ‘home of dance’ at CSU to be located in the new School of Community Health building at Thurgoona.
Media Note: For interviews and pictures with Mr Philip Piggin, contact CSU Media. Print this story Investigating tourism in East Timor
07 Oct 2009
Media Note: For interviews and pictures with Dr Rik Thwaites and CSU students involved in the East Timor trip, contact CSU Media. Students from CSU’s School of Environmental Sciences are preparing to travel to Nepal for one month late in November to investigate environmental issues around the Annapurna Conservation Area and Chitwan National Park. Print this story CSU Koori Admissions Program
06 Oct 2009
.jpg) Aboriginal students considering a tertiary degree are encouraged to apply for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Koori Admissions Program (KAP) within the next week to ensure they are considered for study in 2010. The annual KAP is an alternative entry program designed specifically for Indigenous students. The KAP provides potential students with a supportive and caring environment to assess whether or not they are likely to be suited to university life. It is free of charge to eligible participants, with travel, meal and accommodation costs funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Students who successfully complete the KAP will be offered a place in their chosen course at any CSU campus or via distance education. Koori students interested in being part of the program should register their interest with the University’s Indigenous Student Services (ph 6338 4236) in the coming weeks or visit here.
Media Note: For interviews or more information please contact CSU Media. Print this story CSU expands business on the border
28 Sep 2009
Current and future professionals in accounting, business management and computing can continue to receive their degree qualifications on the Border with the establishment of three new schools in Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Faculty of Business. After a recent faculty restructure, the three new schools, which encompass CSU’s five main campuses, will have staff on the Albury-Wodonga Campus and will continue to offer business and computing courses on campus. Head of the School of Business, Associate Professor Grant O’Neill, said the faculty was strengthening existing programs in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and information technology. “We also saw our first group of South Korean students start our Bachelor of Business program and fully expect to see this cohort substantially increase in 2010. We will also offer our Master of Business and Master of Business Administration programs on campus in Albury next year,” Professor O’Neill said. The new Associate Dean (Administration) based at Thurgoona, Associate Professor John Atkinson, said the expansion demonstrated the commitment by the Faculty of Business to provide high quality teaching and research opportunities to students and the Albury-Wodonga community.
Media Note: Associate Professor Grant O'Neill will be available for interviews and pictures on Monday 28 September on CSU's Thurgoona site, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. For details, contact CSU Media. Print this story Ceremony honours CSU pioneers
22 Sep 2009
As part of Charles Sturt University's (CSU) 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2009, the University Council will name several student residences in honour of pioneers of higher education for the University in Albury-Wodonga. An official ceremony will be held at CSU at Albury-Wodonga on its Thurgoona site at 2.15pm on Thursday 24 September. Student residential houses will be named after former Head of Albury-Wodonga Campus and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor David Battersby; former member of the University Council and CEO of the Hume Building Society, Dr William Hanrahan; and former director of the Albury Campus and noted local and national historian, Adjunct Associate Professor Bruce Pennay, OAM. CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter, said, “The naming of these residences is one way of recognising the huge contribution and legacy of these three people.” Members of the Albury-Wodonga community have been invited to the ceremony with CSU staff and students, to be held in the Gums Café on CSU’s Thurgoona site, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.
Media Note: For interviews and pictures on Thursday 24 September, contact CSU Media. Print this story Natural environment on show at Thurgoona
15 Sep 2009
To help celebrate the rejuvenating natural environment found on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Thurgoona site, Dr John Rafferty, lecturer at the Murray School of Education, will conduct tours of the campus to highlight its environmentally sensitive buildings, water management and campus wetlands, as well as its native fauna and flora. “The tours are part of Biodiversity Month, which aims to promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity across Australia and the world,” Dr Rafferty said. Single tours starting at 10am on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September will leave from the Thurgoona Learning Commons. A bird display from the collection of Dr David Watson, Associate Professor from the School of Environmental Sciences, will also be held in the Learning Commons. Tour bookings can be made at the loans desk at the Thurgoona Learning Commons, or call (02) 6051 9812.
Media Note: For interviews with Dr Rafferty, contact CSU Media. The Learning Commons on CSU’s Thurgoona site can be reached via Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. Print this story CSU leads at Tour de Timor
08 Sep 2009
 Staff and students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) successfully flew the flag at the inaugural cycling race Tour de Timor held recently in Timor Leste (East Timor). CSU student Mr Neil Van der Pleog from Mount Beauty in Victoria won the 450-kilometre race around the country. CSU students and staff also provided extensive physiotherapy services for competitors throughout the tough event. Started by President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta in the capital Dili, the five day event took cyclists through the nine regions of Timor before returning to Dili. At the hilliest stage of the race, riders climbed to 1 850 metres. Two third year Bachelor of Physiotherapy students Mr Tom Bidstrup and Ms Rachael McLeod and physiotherapy lecturer Mr Tim Retchford from the School of Community Health at CSU at Albury-Wodonga provided physiotherapy services for the 350 competitors. Many of the riders were international participants who were attracted to Timor Leste for the gruelling US$75 000 event. “The Tour de Timor coincided with the celebration of the 10 years since East Timor's independence vote,” said Mr Retchford. “Locals lined Dili’s streets up to 10 deep to cheer the riders as they crossed the finish line.”
Media Note: CSU physiotherapy lecturer Mr Tim Retchford and the physiotherapy students are available for interview tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September, before they go on clinical placement outside the Albury-Wodonga region. Contact CSU Media. The physiotherapy program runs through the School of Community Health at CSU at Albury-Wodonga.
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Fourteen students enrolled in 