People interested in a career in ecotourism now have more paths leading to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Adventure Ecotourism) at Charles Sturt University’s Thurgoona campus.

Wodonga Institute of TAFE’s Director, Adrian Marron and Charles Sturt University’s Head of the School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Associate Professor Nick Klomp, will jointly launch the new Bachelor of Applied Science (Adventure Ecotourism) at the Thurgoona campus of Charles Sturt University on Thursday 15 August at 10am over a cup of billy tea.

By collaborating, the institutions can offer students a flexible course where students either undertake the CSU ecotourism degree, which incorporates the Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation offered by Wodonga Institute of TAFE, or complete the certificate and then apply to enter the CSU course.

Program co-ordinator for the Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation, Jenny Gordon, said the format of the new degree gave prospective students greater flexibility in achieving career goals.

“This will increase education pathways into the industry for students offering them direct, entry-level industry qualifications to complement theoretical studies in the degree course,” Ms Gordon said.

CSU School of Information and Environmental Science course co-ordinator, Dr Neil Lipscombe said the Adventure Ecotourism course is the result of the collaboration between two educational providers that aims to bring together the practical and theoretical.

“This way students not only acquire a high level of practical outdoor recreation proficiency but also have a deeper understanding of the importance of this industry to individuals and the environment,” Dr Lipscombe said.