There are many charities and fundraisers vying for the public’s money to support international humanitarian and developmental efforts. A small group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff is contributing to a little-known group building a school in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Africa. The African non-government organisation (NGO) Mission in Health Care and Development (MHCD) provides assistance in communities straddling the DRC, Rwandan and Burundi borders which have suffered from years of war and unrest. The NGO is involved in health care, food production, and its education project aims to erect school buildings for the students who have never before had access to a school. CSU staff member Mr William Adlong says the group of six Learning and Teaching Services staff were among those who originally contributed the prize from an award win of $100 last year, and who’ve since started contributing individually through regular deductions from their pay. “We recently received an email from Dr Luc at the school at Korohoro. He said two mud brick buildings were completed but they would use a tarpaulin until they raised enough money to roof the building with iron. He is concerned that the buildings will deteriorate through the rainy season,” Mr Adlong said. “I think we each feel that what we contribute is a small amount for us, but a few of these contributions together actually make up a salary for a teacher. We love the idea that we’re contributing to the education of, and a better future for, children, especially those growing up where there has been such strife,” he said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has risen to the task of finding new ways to promote careers in agriculture, an industry which continues to demand skilled professionals to meet the challenges posed by a changing climate and the global demand for food. The School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Orange and Wagga Wagga has launched the ‘Partners in Agricultural Education’, a collaboration with 30 of agriculture’s leading companies to offer final-year Bachelor of Agricultural Science students the opportunity to spend time in a workplace with skilled mentors. The initiative is in response to confronting statistics that reveal the number of people with tertiary qualifications in the agricultural sector is just seven per cent compared to the national average of 22 per cent in other sectors. Companies involved in the scheme were recently thanked at a function at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Coordinator of the new professional placement subject offered in the Bachelor of Agricultural Science, CSU lecturer Dr Alison Southwell, said, “For students thinking about taking up a degree in agricultural science this opportunity will be a real drawcard. For current students it will build real technical competency in the area of agriculture they hope to pursue, as well as developing the professional skills enabling them to become the industry’s future leaders.” Students will begin applying for placements with participating companies in 2010.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate has claimed an international award for the best sparkling wine in the world. Dr Marc P. Bradshaw, Wine Master at Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, is still celebrating after his win at the Effervescents du Monde®, held by the Forum Oenologie, on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November in Dijon, France. Dr Bradshaw’s Sparkling Icewine Cabernet 2008 was named first in the top 10 sparkling wines against competitors from France, Italy and Argentina. The annual event attracted more than 500 wines from 24 countries. Dr Bradshaw received his PhD from CSU in Wagga Wagga, Australia, in 2002 after completing his research in 2001 investigating ‘Ascorbic Acid as a Promoter of Wine Spoilage’ under Professor of Oenology, Professor Geoff Scollary. The then CSU academic convinced the PhD student to pursue a career in wine over his initial plan to work as a forensic scientist. Dr Bradshaw has worked at wineries in South Africa, Germany and Australia. He started at Pillitteri Estates Winery in Canada in 2004, and was elevated to the position of Wine Master in 2006. “I’m stoked that my Cab Sparkling Icewine was given the honour of top spot at the Effervescents du Monde. It’s pretty surreal for me as this was my first crack at producing a sparkling wine of any sort. It’s very humbling that my Canadian red Icewine should be judged so highly among top champagne and sparkling wine producers and regions,” Dr Bradshaw said.

A ceremony to honour the significant contributions eight individuals have made to Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its predecessor institutions will be held in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 17 December. The honorary naming ceremony of student residential accommodation at CSU in Wagga Wagga is part of the University’s 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2009. Similar ceremonies have been held at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, and Orange throughout 2009. Those to be honoured at the ceremony in Wagga Wagga include Mrs Jane Asimus, Mrs Anne Brassil, Mr Peter Gissing, Professor Richard Johnstone, Mr John Mahon, Emeritus Professor Bruce Mansfield, AM, Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe and Mr Rodney Parsons, OAM.

One of Australia’s largest architectural practices has been appointed as principal Design Consultant for the National Life Sciences Hub planned for Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. BVN Architecture has been selected by the University for the $41.67 million dollar project. In the Federal Budget in May 2009, the Commonwealth announced $34 million in new funding for CSU for the construction of the National Life Sciences Hub. CSU is contributing a further $7.67 million towards the project. The new facility will include a Learning and Teaching Laboratory Complex, Research Laboratories, Glasshouse Complex and Controlled-Environment Facilities, Field Laboratory, and support and office facilities. “BVN Architecture was appointed to the project after a significant tender process that attracted more than 20 high quality submissions,” said Mr Stephen Butt, the Executive Director of the Division of Facilities Management at CSU. “With a strong history in tertiary education construction projects, BVN Architecture has a firm understanding of laboratory design and construction as well as the design considerations for university teaching environments.” Read more about the National Life Sciences Hub here.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, The Hon. Mark Butler, MP, will officially open the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences building at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga from 10.30am on Wednesday 16 December. The Vice-Chancellor and President of CSU, Professor Ian Goulter, will also attend the opening, which will include a tour of the new teaching, research and academic facilities in the two-storey complex. The building houses a 24-chair Dental and Oral Health Clinic; a patient waiting room; reception and patient counselling/liaison room; academic offices; research facilities; a 20-place simulation laboratory with practise models for teaching pre-clinical skills; and teaching areas including a specialist science teaching laboratory, lecture theatres, and seminar and scenario rooms. Read more about the award winning building at CSU in Wagga Wagga here.

Final year high school students around Australia are receiving their final results and making big decisions about their futures - What do I want to do? Do I study or work next year? Where do I study? Charles Sturt University (CSU) is helping these students make informed decisions with a series of Change of Preference Information Sessions on all campuses next week. CSU Market Development Manager Ms Cheryl Howell says these sessions will help students and their parents think about study options for 2010 at CSU, with academics and support staff available for discussions. "If prospective students want to discuss our courses, preference options, school results or living and learning at CSU, they can attend one of these sessions being run throughout the University's region," said Ms Howell. Victorian students can call CSU on (02) 6051 9962 or 1800 334 733 to discuss their options before their change of preference period closes.

Having worked diligently to ensure Year 12 students had access to the best possible resources, the Charles Sturt University (CSU) NSW HSC Online website  team has taken time out to congratulate students who worked hard to receive notable results in their NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) last week. "While creating this website, the NSW Department of Education and Training and Charles Sturt University were keenly aware of the crucial information this website delivers to students studying for the HSC," said NSW HSC Online coordinator and CSU senior lecturer Dr Deb Clarke. "It’s wonderful to know our resources helped students gain the marks they wanted in the HSC.” The NSW HSC Online developers are now reviewing the site to ensure the next group of students studying for the HSC can access quality education resources for 50 HSC subjects in 2010. “Each month the website delivered up to 1.65 million pages to students, teachers and parents and we believe this will increase in 2010.”

The CSU Media team welcomes you to 2010. We hope you had a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and that the year ahead is a healthy one.