Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon. Chris Evans, of funding of around $8 million to tackle the chronic shortages of tertiary educated agricultural professionals in Australia.

 

“A strong and productive agricultural sector is critical for domestic food security, and to meet rapidly expanding global demand,” said Professor Goulter.

 

“The 2011 AgriFood Skills Australia Environmental Scan estimated that half of the industry’s agricultural scientists are approaching retirement age. A recent analysis by the Deans of Agriculture projected that the agricultural industry needs up to 6 000 tertiary trained agricultural scientists, managers and other professionals each year.

 

“Yet, in 2009 the Australian university system produced 270 agricultural science graduates.

 

“This new funding will support the construction of a specialised Regional University Centre focused on agricultural education on the Wangaratta campus of the Goulburn-Ovens Institute of TAFE (GO-TAFE).

 

“GO-TAFE is widely regarded in Victoria and Australia for its focus on agricultural education, and its success in increasing rural enrolments in vocational agricultural education.

 

“Charles Sturt University is the national leader in working with TAFE to provide pathways for students from vocational to higher education.

 

“Combining these strengths, Charles Sturt University and GO-TAFE will develop pathways that will see local rural students progress from Certificate III through to degrees in agriculture and agribusiness in a supported local environment.

 

“This will include flexible completion options supporting working students.

 

“By carefully mapping programs and the provision of study support based at our joint Regional University Centre in Wangaratta, rural students will be able to remain in their local area for the duration of their program.

 

“It will significantly expand opportunities for students in northern Victoria to undertake agricultural education.

 

“As a regionally-based university, Charles Sturt University has been working closely with industry, employers and TAFE to address the chronic shortage of agricultural professionals in Australia.

 

“While student enrolments in agriculture have been declining around Australia, Charles Sturt University has been steadily growing both the range of its agricultural courses and its enrolments in agricultural and related disciplines.

 

“We offer a broad range of programs including agricultural science, agribusiness management, horticulture, sustainable agriculture, irrigation, ecological agriculture, catchment management, water policy and governance, natural resource management, viticulture, wine science, equine science, animal science and veterinary science.

 

“We have dedicated industry-based research centres in agricultural innovation and wine science, and our research into agricultural cropping systems was recently recognised by the federal government as being at world - class standard.

 

“This investment demonstrates that the government understands the importance of increasing rural student access to vocational and university education to growing the next generation of tertiary agricultural professionals.