The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Andrew Vann, will officially open the new Cellar Door at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Valentine’s Day, Thursday 14 February. Located in a new building overlooking CSU’s commercial winery and vineyard, the Cellar Door opened for business late last year in its expanded location near the University’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre. In addition to the official opening from 3pm, guests will have an opportunity to taste newly released CSU wines, including the 2009 Cellar Reserve Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay and the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc. Read more about the new venue on CSU News here. The Cellar Door is located in building 413, near car park 11 in McKeown Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga and is open from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm on weekends. To place a wine order, telephone 02 6933 2435 or send an email.

Finland’s on-going success in international education rankings is the envy of many countries but the education system in the small Nordic country steers away from standardised tests and long school hours. Educational reforms dating back to the 1970s have built up “a culture of responsibility and trust within an education system that values teachers’ wisdom in judging how to promote a good life for the students”, says Finnish academic, Associate Professor Hannu Heikkinen. A senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, and a visiting academic at CSU’s Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE) where he is an adjunct assistant professor, Associate Professor Heikkinen is visiting Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Australia from Friday 1 to Tuesday 19 February. “Unlike countries such as Korea and China, who match our success in international tests, Finland’s school hours for teachers and pupils are among the smallest in the world and school autonomy is still quite high. Finns have encouraged creativity and freedom for schools and teachers. The Finnish example shows that education is not about competing but more about taking care of others,” Associate Professor Heikkinen said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will welcome new students during O Week 2013 from Monday 25 February to Friday 1 March. The week provides incoming students with a range of academic and social activities as they settle into their new life at university. CSU in Wagga Wagga will welcome about 1 200 new students with an official Commencement Ceremony in Joyes Hall, Pine Gully Road from 10am on Monday 25 February. It will be followed by the colourful Market Day which showcases the services and support available to the new students. Organising the entertainment for O Week 2013 is student support officer, Mr Roger Ansell. “It is very important that our new students feel welcomed and connected to their new social environment and feel secure,” Mr Ansell said. “We have booked nationally profiled entertainers including Blue Juice, Stonefield, and Kingswood. Another entertainer is Sydney DJ Nina Las Vegas (triple j), and other events include a zombies and ghouls dance party, a trivia quiz night, a pool party and a big band night. You can read the full program for O Week 2013 at CSU in Wagga Wagga including academic, cultural and social events here. Funds raised by the students during O Week 2013 will be donated to the cancer assistance network, Can Assist.