Ms Kath Read has travelled from South Australia to take part in residential classes in Orange as part of her distance education studies in Ecological Agricultural Systems  at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Tired of sitting at a desk in her career as a successful graphic and web designer, Ms Read decided to quit her job and complete a permaculture course in Adelaide. Having gained the certificate, she has now moved on to a degree which she hopes will see her consulting in third world countries, ensuring farms can be more sustainable. “If you want to get somewhere and be taken seriously, I think a degree is the best thing you can do,” Ms Read said. “By coming along to the residential classes, I can meet like-minded people taking the course, and bounce ideas around before heading back home and continuing my studies.” Residential schools for distance education courses are taking place on CSU campuses across central and southern NSW throughout the week.