The philosophy of Charles Sturt University's (CSU) newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, is one of partnership.

Speaking after the announcement of his appointment at the Wagga Wagga Campus today, Friday 8 December, Professor Goulter said this philosophy of partnership with the University's communities, students, staff and overseas partners would pervade his time at CSU.

Professor Goulter, who comes to CSU from a Deputy Vice-Chancellor's position at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, will take over from Professor Cliff Blake on 4 July 2001.

He said the challenge for the University was to provide an international perspective to its own students and graduates, giving them exposure to world best-practice, technology and services, which in turn will benefit our regional communities.

"There's a real challenge for us to provide that international perspective to our own Australian students.

"It's a balance of international students coming to Charles Sturt and Australian students having international experience.

"We've got a tremendous regional opportunity here, a regional advantage, but we do live in an international world."

Professor Goulter added he was committed to the regions in which the University operates and its contribution to their cultural and socio-economic development.

"This partnership goes beyond just providing educational opportunities, it goes to a whole range of leadership and collaborative partnerships within the region."

The other key commitment goes back to the responsibility to be a university in the traditional sense, providing nationally and internationally-recognised teaching and research programs, he said.

Professor Goulter said one of the biggest challenges facing CSU and other universities in the Australian sector was the need for the Commonwealth Government to understand the contribution these universities make to the general wellbeing of Australia.