Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst recently hosted ‘Xplore CSU’, an on-campus information day for 44 Year 5 and 6 students from Tullamore Central School, Tottenham Central School and Kelso Public School in Bathurst to encourage them to consider higher education when they finish school. “The ‘Xplore CSU’ day is part of a federally-funded program which aims to provide information, access and awareness of further education for all students, especially those from rural and remote areas which are currently under-represented in higher education,” said Ms Liz Smith, Director of Academic Support at CSU. “Research shows students’ ideas about who attends university - and more importantly who doesn’t - are formed at a very young age. It’s important for children and their families to understand their options for university, and the program helps build that understanding.” The ‘Xplore CSU’ day allowed the students to attend seminars and activities in the Schools of Computing and Mathematics, Human Movement Studies, Communication and Creative Industries, and Business.They toured university facilities, participated in a mock graduation ceremony, met CSU student ambassadors, met Wayne the robotic dog, and visited the on-campus television studio where they recorded a news bulletin.

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. 

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.”