Videoconferencing will be a significant component of teaching in the future according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) mathematics lecturer Michael Kemp who spoke at a public seminar today about the challenges facing lecturers who are not always teaching in the same room as their students. “As the world evolves into a smaller place with email and videoconferencing becoming an everyday occurrence, Australia’s largest regional university CSU has trained their academics to use the latest technology and present lectures to students throughout NSW and across the country.” Having taught mathematics via videoconferences and forums during the past semester at CSU, Mr Kemp looked at his practices through a survey with students to present a public seminar on lessons learnt titled Lessons Learned About Remote Teaching.

"I just love seeing the kids achieve, it is so much fun ... I didn’t really want to be a mainstream teacher, special education is where I want to be." Sarah Poulos is seeing her dreams coming true. Currently in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Primary Education (Special Education) at Charles Sturt University (CSU), she describes her professional development goals as “to do my Masters and to secure a permanent job in a Special Education classroom - they are now both set in concrete.” Sarah has received a two-year scholarship from the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) valued at $15 000. Next year, Sarah will move to RIDBC in Sydney to complete a Master of Special Education degree, specialising in hearing impairment. She will work with children with cochlear implants, getting them ready for mainstream schools. Life is very full for Sarah; she is just back from one of her regular trips overseas, her summer job as a lifeguard and swim school coordinator at Dubbo Aquatic Leisure Centre begins soon in September, and she is getting married at Christmas.

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have been awarded NSW Farmers scholarships and have been described as “outstanding young achievers set to make their mark on country NSW”. Megan McGrice, a Bachelor of Veterinary Science student, and James Christie who is currently completing honours in a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) both study at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus. James says the scholarship money is a bonus, “especially when you are on a University student budget. Mum and Dad are stoked.” James and Megan each received $5 000 at the Association's Annual Conference on Wednesday 19 July. Chair of the Association's Rural Affairs Committee, Alan Brown, said the high calibre of entries this year was very inspiring and shows that that the future of rural NSW is in good hands, with all the winners planning to use their talents and skills back in regional areas. Megan says the Veterinary Science course “is all about trying to give something back to rural areas. I grew up on the land and I know what it is like to not have a vet around. I want to help farmers and help out in rural areas.”

The peak body for Australian agricultural scientists and technologists has honoured the life-time professional work of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe. The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST), representing professionals working in agricultural science and natural resource management, has made Professor Wolfe a Fellow of the Institute. He has a lengthy involvement with agricultural education at the University which in recent years has seen him lead international student exchanges between CSU and the University of Delaware, USA. Professor Wolfe has also been recognised for his work in building the agricultural capacity of countries like North Korea and Eritrea, visiting and building ties with both countries. He believes strongly in the benefit of these visits to scientific agriculture and to farmers, not only in the host country but also in Australia. “Following the recent run of poor seasons, the Australian agricultural sector deserves on-going community support for the valuable role it plays in food security, land care and earning export income,” said Professor Wolfe. Outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Science Professor Jim Pratley said this was a fitting and richly deserved reward for Professor Wolfe for his tireless commitment to agriculture and AIAST.

After eight years at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Executive Director of CSU’s Division of Marketing and Community Education, Ken Ball is leaving CSU to further his photography career. He cites the integration of the marketing website, the development of the CSU Contact Centre and the establishment of the CSU Outback Art School in Broken Hill as highlights of his time at CSU. Despite his burgeoning photography career, which includes three books and numerous exhibitions, he says he will always fondly remember his years at CSU. “It’s been great working here. CSU is quite entrepreneurial, the thinking here is different to a lot of universities which are set in a traditional mould and set in their ways. CSU is very responsive, and that makes the University what it is.”

A Federal Government inquiry into school students’ knowledge of Australia’s history has led to a new Charles Sturt University (CSU) history course for teachers being launched for 2007. Course coordinator and history and politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford said there is a real gap in the knowledge students and teachers have about Australia’s democratic process and its history. “This course aims to address many teachers’ poor understanding of Australian history and help teachers to address the need to teach about Australia’s democratic processes and citizenship in their classes. The Graduate Certificate in History (Civics and Citizenship) relates to relevant sections in other teaching subjects for social science, geography and modern history giving graduates a big picture understanding, particularly in relation to the organisation and operation of the Australian democratic system,” Dr Whitford said. Enrolments for the postgraduate course, to start in 2007, will run until November 2006. The Federal Government will hold a summit on teaching Australian history in August this year.

Heather Bell has been appointed the Acting Head of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dubbo Campus. Mrs Bell has just returned from a six month placement at CSU Ontario where she worked as Campus Operations Manager, which was her role for the past five years at the Dubbo Campus. In announcing the appointment, Vice-Chancellor Ian Goulter congratulated Mrs Bell, saying “she will play an active role in strengthening the University’s links with the region and the delivery of service to the community.”  Mrs Bell says these are exciting times for the Dubbo Campus. “The Admin Focus conference saw over 100 CSU staff travel to Dubbo to see first hand the development that has taken place and that the construction is completed at Dubbo, we can cement our place in the CSU community as well as the Dubbo regional community.” She says she was delighted by the appointment. “Absolutely, I think I will now be well placed to encourage prospective students to visit the Campus and consider higher education, particularly those who may have left school a few years ago or those looking for state-of-the-art student accommodation.” Mrs Bell take over the role as Head of Campus from Professor David Battrersby who was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Ballarat University.

  Charles Sturt University (CSU) has ensured the continuing success of the Orange Campus by appointing Professor Kevin Parton as the new Head of the Orange Campus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter said Professor Parton is the right man for the job. “I congratulate Professor Parton in taking on this important position. He will play an active role in strengthening the University’s links with the region and the delivery of service to the community.” Professor Parton will hold the position of Head of the Orange Campus concurrently with his position as Head of School of Rural Management. “It gives me great pleasure to continue the work already commenced to expand the teaching and research work of the Orange Campus,” said Professor Parton. “There will be a more extensive range of courses in 2007 including those from Rural Management as well as Nursing, Pharmacy and Clinical Sciences. The emphasis in these undergraduate programs is on professional education and as such they offer great opportunities for students of our region and beyond to move towards highly sought after careers. I look forward to working with our dedicated staff as they guide students on this path to success.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Honours student, James Bekkema, has won an Apple University Consortium Scholarship and will now attend The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference to be held in San Francisco in August. Sue Moffatt, Head of CSU’s School of Information Technology, describes James as “one smart cookie”, saying the highly sought-after scholarship was won in a competitive national competition between 36 Australian universities. She says James is "an exceptional student who has done much of the Mac development work on his own initiative". The conference includes presentations, dinners, a tour of the US Apple Campus and a keynote speech by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple. “I’m really looking forward to ‘Student Sunday’. I’m currently an Honours student, and this could well be my last year of University, so I'll be asking Apple computer representatives what they are looking for in a university student,” said Mr Bekkema.