Enrolments in information technology (IT) courses offered at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga increased significantly in the second half of 2009, says the Head of the University’s School of Computing and Mathematics, Associate Professor Irfan Altas. According to Professor Altas, demand from local businesses has also increased, with “the School constantly receiving inquiries from Border businesses to employ CSU graduates and students, some before they have even completed their courses. Local businesses who already have CSU graduates working for them have also congratulated us for preparing them to be ready for the workplace.” Professor Altas says CSU prepares IT and computing science graduates to work in the global marketplace as well as local businesses.

Dance is the message this week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga when Mr Philip Piggin from Canberra Dance Theatre visits Albury. Mr Piggin will present a public lecture, entitled ’Why Dance? A short taste of the learning, empowerment and joy that can be found through dance’, on Wednesday 7 October in the Cliff Blake auditorium at CSU’s Thurgoona site. “Visiting artists enhance the culture of our campus and the wider community also benefits by participating in sessions with the artist. Philip Piggin has a strong connection to the CSU community and Albury-Wodonga,” said acting Head of the Murray School of Education, Ms Jenni Munday. Mr Piggin will take dance workshops with CSU students from the Murray School of Education and the School of Community Health, the new ‘home of dance’ at CSU to be located in the new School of Community Health building at Thurgoona.

Ants in the kitchen, ants on fence posts – are these sign that rain is imminent? “No”, says Australian ant researcher and Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student, Mr Wayne Robinson. “I hear these stories regularly, but it has never been scientifically proven that ants can predict rain. It has been seen, however, that some ant species react to other environmental cues, such as increasing day length or higher temperatures, and build up the entrances to their nests or move fertile male and queen ants to higher ground at the start of ‘normal’ rainy seasons. Ants don’t know it is going to rain; like our farmers, they are just hoping it will be a normal season.” Mr Robinson, who lectures in environmental science in Queensland, is currently at CSU at Albury-Wodonga to further his PhD studies of ants on Fraser Island off central Queensland. But Mr Robinson says he is still keeping an open mind on the subject. “As with any scientific research, the answer can be changed with new evidence.”

New students enrolled in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario, Canada, are using the social networking system Twitter and email to communicate with their lecturer, Ms Jenni Munday. "As educators, we are constantly looking for new ways to create a sense of community for students who study by distance education. Using Twitter is a good way to create this community," says Ms Munday, who is based in Albury-Wodonga, Australia, at the CSU Murray School of Education. Each student joins Twitter and chooses to 'follow' the lecturer and all the other students, so everyone benefits from reading the tweets from each member of the group. “Students can ask each other questions and they receive feedback when devising their research questions for an upcoming assessment presentation. It is a more immediate way to study from afar,” Ms Munday concludes.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic has received a top honour for his services as a leading advocate for heritage and community history in regional NSW. Associate Professor Bruce Pennay, an adjunct academic with the University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society [link] based at Thurgoona, has been awarded the Annual History Citation by the History Council of NSW, the peak body for historians in the State. The citation particularly applauded Professor Pennay’s “research, explanation and promotion of the migrant experience in the post-war years”, especially at the Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre near Albury-Wodonga. This year, Professor Pennay also received a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the Albury-Wodonga community.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students will be out to show school students from Wodonga Middle Years School that anyone from anywhere can aspire to go to the University. The Year 9 students who are from various cultural and lower socio-economic backgrounds will attend a mock lecture, tour facilities on the Albury-Wodonga Campus at Thurgoona and take part in a Permablitz that will be running on site during their visit on Friday 30 October. The students are taking part in the American-based program, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which is supported by CSU. “AVID helps students to understand their options and encourages them to continue their education to Year 12 and beyond. It is a ‘can do’ project that works closely with students to raise their self-esteem and create a positive attitude,” said Ms Sandra Boyd, event coordinator and CSU Equity Officer.

TAFE students who have enrolled in or recently completed Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses at TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, the Canberra Institute of Technology and TAFE Western can now win scholarships to further their education at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at CSU, Professor Ross Chambers, says applications for the 12 scholarships, each worth $2 500, are available for 2010, with four scholarships available at each institution. “The CSU University Pathway Scholarship Program is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to create strong education pathways and collaboration from TAFE to University in our regional cities and regions,” says Professor Chambers. Institute Director at TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, Ms Rosemary Campbell, acknowledges that CSU and Riverina Institute have become great educational partners. “We have a rich range of integrated programs which are envied across Australia,” Ms Campbell says. Applications will close on Friday 27 November, with offers due to be made to successful TAFE students on Friday 11 December.

A one-day event that highlights the new Inland Learning Experience (ILE) centre on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Thurgoona site will also see the start of permaculture gardens around the centre in a big rush! A so-called ‘Permablitz’ will be held for one day with assistance from public groups and interested individuals, starting at 8am on Friday 30 October at the ILE cottage. Event and ILE coordinator Dr John Rafferty says the Permablitz is a free event where the public can “learn a lot, share food, get some exercise and have a great time outside” while establishing public vegetable gardens based on permaculture principles around the ILE cottage. “The ILE provides a platform for the University and the Border community to work together on key issues involving sustainability,” Dr Rafferty says. For details on the CSU ILE Permablitz, including how to get involved, contact Dr Rafferty from CSU’s Murray School of Education on (02) 6051 9406 or email jrafferty@csu.edu.au.

International professional experience is invaluable for developing job-ready allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, says Dr Michael Curtin from Charles Sturt University (CSU). On Wednesday 28 October, Dr Curtin, the coordinator of the CSU occupational therapy degree offered through the School of Community Health will discuss the benefits and challenges of undertaking overseas clinical placements to third-year students as part of the final year in their degrees in 2010. He will be joined by current final-year students who this year completed five to six week placements in Trung Tâm Bảo Trợ Trẻ Tàn Tật Mồ Côi Thị Nghè (Thị Nghè Orphanage) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. “There is no doubt that working at the orphanage challenges the students, and the skills they learn are useful in their professional and personal lives,” said Dr Curtin.