Charles Sturt University (CSU), Griffith City Council and TAFE NSW Riverina Institute (RI) will cooperate to develop further opportunities for higher education in Griffith and the Western Riverina region though a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed this week in Griffith.

 

The parties will devise a strategic plan to sustainably develop tertiary education in Griffith, which will support the growth of the city and the NSW Western Riverina region. The plan will also aim to improve participation in higher education in the region, which is currently below State and national levels.

 

CSU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Ross Chambers says the MOU builds on the collaborative achievements in the parties’ teaching and research in recent years, including:

Professor Chambers says,”CSU welcomes this collaboration. It will greatly assist us in our commitment to the education of professionals who will be retained in and contribute to inland Australian communities.”

 

”We are always looking at ways in which we can bring more educational opportunities to people within our communities, and this is great example of how we can work co-operatively to benefit people in our region,” says Riverina Institute Director Rosemary Campbell.

 

Griffith City Mayor Councillor (Cr) Dino Zappacosta welcomes the impending MOU signing as a positive step for Griffith and the communities of the Western Riverina.

 

“Developing a greater university presence in Griffith will help to attract people to the area and retain some of the young people who leave to pursue tertiary studies,” he said.

 

“This community has identified access to tertiary education as an important factor to stimulate future growth of this city.”

 

Cr Zappacosta also applauds the forward thinking of both the Riverina Institute and CSU that fostered partnerships such as the one being developed with Griffith City Council, which will provide positive options and access to tertiary facilities and courses that would otherwise be unavailable to regional communities.

 

The MOU establishes a working group, which comprises two senior members from CSU, Griffith City Council and RI to oversee its development and implementation.