Exposing young school students to important health and safety messages is the focus of a cooperative effort between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and West Albury Primary School at the annual Health and Safety Education Expo. Around 80 students enrolled in CSU’s early childhood education degree will present hands-on learning experiences and displays to 80 children between Kindergarten and Year 2, who will practise storm survival, be healthy fruit master chefs, escape an imaginary fire, and discover how to be head lice busters. "Charles Sturt University students are involved in hands-on teaching and learning with the local community. The students researched their topics with the help of local professionals and prepared interactive experiences for the school children. The expo emphasises the importance of giving young children support to promote their own wellbeing from a very young age," said early childhood education lecturer, Ms Angela Fenton, from CSU’s Murray School of Education  at Thurgoona. West Albury Public School will host the Health and Safety Education Expo between 2pm and 3.30pm on Wednesday 21 September.

International early career researchers continue to flock to the Border region, with research students from Indonesia, China, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Canada and Ghana commencing research Doctorate and Master degrees during 2011.  Mr Patrick Cobbinah came from Ghana in West Africa to Albury in July to explore how economic, social and environmental issues could be integrated in the planning of ecotourism activities in Ghana. “I chose Charles Sturt University to do my Masters as there are reasonable research facilities available and experts in research related to ecotourism and poverty. The city of Albury is such a serene place, where there are constant efforts in integrating environmental, social and economic needs and variables into management plans, especially on the University’s campus at Thurgoona,” Mr Cobbinah said. Seven postgraduate research students have commenced their studies in 2011with the CSU School of Environmental Sciences based at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.

Agricultural science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have again excelled at the Australian University Crops Competition held in Temora in September with two students named in the competition’s top five. An initiative of Grain Gowers Limited, the third annual competition was held from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 September. The event, covering grains, pulses and oilseeds, involved students from six Australian universities. Two members of the CSU team, Ms Ally Dingjan from Wagga Wagga and Ms Candice Robinson from Whitton finished in the top five, ensuring the pair participates in a study tour to New Zealand in 2012. In addition to the individual winners, CSU took out the University Teams Award. Crop agronomy lecturer in the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Dr Sergio Moroni said, “The Charles Sturt University team performed extremely well throughout the competition. The seriousness of the event did not deter them from enjoying themselves. They made me proud.” The students are studying the Bachelor of Agricultural Science at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

A former student from Springdale Heights Public School in Albury has returned to help with a young pupil’s story on the local environment as part of a Charles Sturt University (CSU) teaching and research project. Mr Jarrod Lindner is studying early childhood and primary education in the Murray School of Education  and will return to his former school on Thursday 22 September to show Kindergarten student Noah Taylor the finished product of their work together. “Earlier this year, Noah and Jarrod, together with 140 other Charles Sturt University and Springdale Heights students, ventured down to the University wetlands to take photos and write a digital story together about the experience. Jarrod has developed a presentation of Noah’s story, which he will show Noah on Thursday. It is a neat way of getting student teachers and school pupils together in one place at one time in a stimulating environment to help educate them all,” said project coordinator and leading CSU education academic, Dr Noella Mackenzie. 

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students and staff will puff and pant to work and study on Wednesday 12 October as part of the annual Ride to Work Day 2011. Cyclists from CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange and Wagga Wagga will participate in the morning event, which will finish with a free breakfast. Event coordinator, Ms Nicole Maher from CSU Green, said the Ride to Work Day is a great way to, “enjoy some exercise, travel with low emissions and enjoy a free breakfast. More and more people are riding to work for fitness, health and to reduce their environmental footprints, as well as to enjoy a relaxing period before the pressures of daily work.” Tips on cycling to work are available from the Ride to Work official site here.

The new President of Dongguk University’s Computer Science Institute in South Korea, Dr Kyung-sun Beak, will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury–Wodonga on Monday 17 October to sign an agreement and investigate opportunities for expanding collaboration between the two universities. CSU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers and Dr Kyung-sun Beak will sign a new articulation agreement during the visit to facilitate further pathways for students from Dongguk University to study business and information technology at Charles Sturt University. A number of students from Dongguk University are already studying at CSU in Albury-Wodonga under a previous agreement signed in 2008. Two of these students will meet for lunch with the South Korean delegation, which will also include the Dean of International Studies, Professor Min-jung Ko, and the Director of Marketing, Jong Wook Ryu. The Head of Albury-Wodonga Campus and Director of CSU’s Office of International Relations, Ms Sue Moloney, will take the delegation on a campus tour after lunch and then, time permitting, a brief tour of Albury city.

Resources collated in a national education project, to be launched in Canberra on Wednesday 26 October, will provide a major boost for early childhood education students says Professor Sue Dockett, project team leader from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Murray School of Education. “Funding for the Early Childhood Education Workforce Project was available for only a limited time, so it has been really important that the outcomes of this project are sustainable. Although funding for the collaboration will finish, the resources will have a life of their own. They will have an influence far beyond the life of the project and will be freely available across the country. Regional and remote communities, in particular, will benefit in lots of ways. The studying teachers are working in communities where there aren’t many educators and they should feel valued and important. This project recognises the value quality educators give to a community. They can upgrade their qualifications and stay within their chosen community It’s a chance to look at career options without necessarily having to change location, so quality education is accessible and the profession is gaining and retaining the best qualified educators.”

Born in Kenya and educated in the United Kingdom, the first dentist to manage the new dental clinic on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus, Mr Jai Rawal, brings an international touch to dental education at CSU. Mr Rawal received his initial qualification from Guy’s Dental Hospital in London, UK, in 2002, and has continued postgraduate studies since then, particularly in dental implants. “I believe strongly that dental professionals need to continue their education after they first graduate. Dental technology is changing rapidly, particularly in the areas of implants and laser surgery, so an institution such as Charles Sturt University has an important role in further professional development, particularly in regional areas,” said Mr Rawal, who has been joined by his wife Pooja in Albury. Mr Rawal is also a keen sportman. “I can’t wait to unpack my cricket, golf, camera and diving gear,” he said. CSU’s dental clinic based at Thurgoona, which will help educate CSU students undertaking degrees in dentistry and oral therapy, will take appointments before the end of this year. Mr Rawal will also run a private practice in conjunction with the CSU clinic.

A two-day conference to start on Wednesday 16 November at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga will look at the transformation of university education in recent years, and how to develop a culture of collaboration, integration and sustainability. The conference, titled Transforming University Education: Developing a culture of collaboration, integration and sustainability will include a panel discussion of CSU students, graduates and industry representatives who receive the fruits of CSU education, moderated by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, and small group discussions and lectures for the 190 participants from all CSU campuses from Dubbo to Albury. Participants can also take part in a tour of CSU’s award-winning environmentally sensitive site at Thurgoona. Keynote speakers for the conference include vocational education Professor Steven Billett from Griffith University and educational researcher Dr Maggie Hutchings from Bournemouth University, UK. The conference will be held in the Learning and Teaching Hub, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.