Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter today welcomed the announcement of $5.4 million in funding for the Faculty of Education to lead a national research network in early childhood education with Queensland University of Technology and Monash University.  The Faculty of Education operates in Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Dubbo.  Funding was provided under the Cooperative Research Networks program, which aims to develop fields to world-class standing by linking researchers across institutions.

 

"Charles Sturt University is a leading research university in early childhood research. This funding will allow Charles Sturt University to bring together researchers in early childhood from Charles Sturt University and two of Australia's other leading institutions to create the largest network of early childhood research academics in the world," Professor Goulter said.

 

"Education has been a core discipline at Charles Sturt University for more than 50 years.  Earlier this year the Faculty's research in education systems was recognised as being at world-class standard in the Government's Excellence in Research Australia review.

 

"The award of a Cooperative Research Network grant vindicates our view that excellent research can occur anywhere in Australia, and the benefits of research in regional Australia benefit not just regional Australia, but the world," he said.

 

"The early years of a child's life are a critical period in human development," said Professor Toni Downes, Dean of the Faculty of Education.

 

"We must ensure that children have access to the highest quality education, delivered by highly skilled educators and informed by the best quality research from around the world.

 

"It is very exciting for Charles Sturt University to be at the forefront of global research and education in early childhood education, but this is fundamentally about making sure children are given the very best start in life.

 

"Two years ago Charles Sturt University researchers were selected by the federal government to lead the development of Australia's first National Early Years Learning Framework.

 

"Our capacity to lead this type of high quality research and policy development in the long term relies on having the best researchers and practitioners around the table, and having a system in place to develop the next generation of researchers to ensure world-class research can be sustained.

 

"This new national cooperative research network will allow us to focus on developing these capacities, and ensuring that early years learning reflects world's best practice now and into the future," Professor Downes said.