Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff from Ontario, Canada, had a brief taste of the Australian summer during a visit to CSU campuses in December. As students in the successful Bachelor of Primary Education Studies in Ontario undertook their teaching practical work, lecturers Ms Janet Adler, Ms Gail Grant, a lecturer in language and literacy, and Mr Don Jones travelled to CSU campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. Their trip included a visit to meet primary school students at the Wagga Wagga Public School by Ms Grant and Mr Jones.

Three Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics from Ontario in Canada will get a taste of the Australian summer when they visit the Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses this month. The trio will visit CSU in Australia on a familiarisation tour of campus facilities and staff as well as the larger regional cities of Albury, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. Ms Janet Adler, a lecturer in creative arts and mathematics, Ms Gail Grant, a lecturer in language and literacy and social studies and Mr Don Jones a lecturer in mathematics and science are a key part of the CSU Ontario team delivering the University’s Bachelor of Primary Education Studies, an elementary program for primary-junior teachers in Ontario. The 2007-2008 student intake are currently on their teaching practical work before they head off for their winter holiday break. The group represents CSU’s third annual student intake in the successful Ontario program.

Three art pieces that highlight iconic images of modern Australia have been donated to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario, Canada. Three works by Melbourne artist Lianne Lewis now adorn the walls of the University’s Burlington campus after they were passed on to the Associate Head of School at CSU Ontario, Professor Rod Francis through the Australian Consulate in nearby Toronto. The brightly coloured modernist works depict landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Applications have opened for students seeking financial assistance in 2008 through the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Equity Scholarships. The scheme offers students three types of scholarships; the Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships, Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships and CSU Equity Scholarships. The Commonwealth Scholarships are offered by the Federal Government for students from a low socio economic background, especially Indigenous students and students from rural and regional Australia. The CSU Equity Scholarships were introduced in 2006 when the University’s allocated $3.25 million from 2006 to 2008 to assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “The scholarships, which vary from $2 000 to over $4 000 each, are an integral part of the University’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to national and internationally recognised educational opportunities, “ said Mr Les Burr, acting Executive Director of Student Services at CSU. Students have until the end of November 2007 to complete their application forms. More information is available at the Equity Scholarships website here. 

Charles Sturt University will be represented in the new system to assess where Federal Government research dollars should be spent in 2008. Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) at CSU, Professor Paul Burnett will chair one of the 13 assessment panels for the Research Quality Framework. The panels will assess the research applications submitted by higher education providers and will award a rating for quality and impact. As Head of the University's Centre for Research and Graduate Training and being responsible for the administration of research and research training at CSU, Professor Burnett will head the Psychology, Psychiatry, Neurological, Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences panel. With five degrees, Professor Burnett is a counsellor, counselling psychologist and educational and developmental psychologist.

Around 110 education researchers and educators from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will gather on the University's Dubbo Campus for the first time between Wednesday 26 and Friday 28 September. Ms Tracey Simpson, Associate Head of the School of Teach Education at Dubbo and host of the forum, said the forum is usually held every two years. "The forum is for all members of CSU's Faculty of Education to reflect on progress, discuss future plans and evaluate how the Faculty fits into the progress of the University,” she said. The major issues for discussion include teaching and learning for the University's new Indigenous Education Strategy, course changes, flexible teaching and learning approaches and research. There will be a performance by the boys dance group from Buninyong Public School, and forum participants will attend the Croc Festival Community Performance on Wednesday evening 26 September 2007.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) 2006 television production graduates Luke Heywood and Tim Pass are ecstatic with the news that their production Chance Your Hand will be screened at the 2007 New York Television Festival Independent Pilot Competition. Chance Your Hand, a situation comedy showing the behind the scenes drama of a television game show, was a major project during the students’ third year studies. Produced at the CSU School of Visual and Performing Arts studios at the Wagga Wagga Campus in inland NSW, Chance Your Hand is one of only three productions selected from outside the United States. CSU Associate Lecturer Patrick Sproule says, “this is a major accolade for the both the course and the students, showcasing just how capable, creative and talented our television, acting and theatre design graduates are”. Luke and Tim will travel to New York to attend the festival from 5 – 9 September and hope to meet network executives to further their television careers.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is reaching out to students in distant and remote locations through the growing education resource of podcasting, the broadcast of audio files across the internet. CSU School of Computing and Mathematics lecturer Anthony Chan says: “Podcasting is now happening in CSU biomedical sciences, accounting, information technology, food and wine sciences and commercial radio and management courses. Podcasts are provided to students before and after classes and include interviews with experts from around the world”. An international collaborative project between CSU and USA’s Bentley College allows students in a first year computing subject to learn from each other and another lecturer half way round the world. The School of Computing and Mathematics also uses podcasting with a local Wagga Wagga high school, with their work in Japanese learning and teaching featured on Japanese television. Studies within CSU have shown that podcasting reduces the effects of isolation and promotes inclusiveness. Surveys with CSU undergraduate students also show podcasting reduces their stress levels, especially students who are coming into a higher education environment for the first time.

The seven Charles Sturt University (CSU) Ontario students currently in Wagga Wagga and Dubbo are now in their last week of practicum teaching in the Australian bush. Three are at North Wagga Public School, two at Peak Hill Central School and two at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School in Dubbo. The Peak Hill and Dubbo prac. teachers Crystal Napasney, Laura Lande, Mandy Greenspoon and Erin McAlister spent Saturday night at Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo having close encounters with various wildlife. Crystal describes Peak Hill as “very rural and very flat. It’s not desert but there’s not much green. It’s brown and dusty.” Laura says this overseas practicum “will be like the icing on the teacher's college cake. I’ve definitely gained an international perspective. The training I’ve received means I could teach anywhere in the world.” Read more about CSU in Ontario here.