A pilot program between TAFE NSW Riverina Institute and Charles Sturt University (CSU) designed to offer “enormous benefits” to Riverina communities will bear fruit on Friday 27 April when five Griffith students graduate with Business degrees from CSU‘s Albury-Wodonga Campus.

 

The pilot program, which commenced in September 2003, was the first in a series of agreements between CSU and Riverina Institute, according to Joy Stocker, Director Educational Planning and Development, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute.

 

“From the pilot program out of Griffith, we now have business, information technology (IT) and fine arts operating out of Wagga Wagga and IT operating out of Albury,” Ms Stocker said.

 

“And this year for the first time we have opened up an integrated four year social work diploma degree out of Deniliquin.  We are working with CSU management in considering the possibilities of linking more of our diploma programs with their relevant degrees.”

 

Ms Stocker describes the relationship between CSU and Riverina Institute as having “Enormous value for all parties. We are providing a pathway for our students to go onto to University study, and the University is getting a high calibre of students.

 

“But most importantly is the benefit to the students who can stay at home with their families and not incur the expenses of travelling or having to live away from home.”

 

Associate Professor Michael O'Mullane, Head of CSU’s School of Business & Information Technology agrees. “It gives tremendous opportunity to people in inland Australia. These graduates are very employable because they have TAFE applied learning and a university degree to use for further advancements in their professions or for post-graduate study.

 

“The students end up with the best of both worlds. And we would anticipate that most of these graduates will stay in the Griffith area and focus on their local community.”

 

Unlike other articulation agreements between education providers, the pilot Business Management / Business Studies program is fully integrated, as Professor O’Mullane explains: “The students enrol in both Riverina Institute and CSU from day one. They complete the Bachelor and Diploma courses concurrently.”

 

Two of the Griffith students will graduate with Distinguished records. One of them, Carla Eade, said the flexibility of the course was something that appealed to her. “I had a young family, and it wasn’t practical to be driving back and forth to Wagga Wagga. It was fantastic – a really nurturing environment. There is nowhere else that offers this type of learning experience.”

 

Carla has used her new degree to find work in production at a local winery. “It gives you the confidence to jump out there and take on what you don’t know.”

 

Ms Stocker says Riverina Institute is looking forward to further expanding the relationship between the institutions because of the opportunities it offers to people in the regions. “We are both servicing regional and isolated communities and catering for the needs of people in our communities.”