Animal science students from Ohio State University (OSU) in the United States are witnessing a rare change to the local rural landscape following recent heavy rain during their six week study trip to Australia. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga is currently hosting a week-long visit to the Riverina by 20 OSU students. The group arrived in Wagga Wagga to stay with local host families on Friday 12 February. Before they depart on Saturday 20 February, the students will inspect CSU facilities including the Equine Centre and the CSU Winery; travel to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area on Wednesday 17 February; and spend the night in Hay on Wednesday 17 February before a visit to rural producers and industries in Darlington Point and Yanco on Thursday 18 February. “The students are here to gain knowledge of farming in the Riverina and visit a wide range of local enterprises and properties,” said visit coordinator Dr Raf Freire from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU.

Researchers from our closet northern neighbour have developed a partnership with the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation which includes Charles Sturt University to support the development of stable and resilient agricultural production. A five-day visit by three visitors from Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) University of Technology to Wagga Wagga will also allow them discussion about common issues confronting agriculture this century, such as food security, biosecurity and changing commodity markets. Director of the EH Graham Centre, Professor Deidre Lemerle says the visit stems from an invitation made during her trip to PNG last November. “We’ll build on last year’s discussion about developing staff and student exchanges and collaborative research programs with Charles Sturt University, which aim to build links with PNG and ultimately build their capacity for sustainable agriculture,” she said. “The visitors will spend time with EH Graham Centre researchers working in their fields of interest including crop and animal production, tour facilities and visit farms in the district.”

Primary and secondary school teachers and pupils from schools across the NSW Central West will gather at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Monday 15 February for training to help them compete in the regional RoboCup Junior Challenge to be held at the University in June. Mr Allen Benter, a PhD student and researcher at the Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS) in Bathurst and coordinator of the RoboCup Junior Challenge, said, “This workshop for teachers and pupils will assist them through the process of constructing and programming a robot to compete in one of three events at the competition in June: Dance, Rescue or Soccer. The winners of the regional competition will then advance to the NSW competition. About 45 teachers and students will attend in groups of one teacher and two students from schools in Bathurst, Orange, Wellington, Oberon, Hampton and O’Connell. During the training day they will construct a robot using Lego and write programming on computers.” CSU is the official sponsor of the regional RoboCup Junior Challenge in the NSW Central West.

While managers put much energy into improving business performance by investing in innovation, increasing product and service quality or through expansion, little effort is given to improving the culture which is the backbone of every organisation’s operation. A Swiss graduate from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Doctor of Business Administration program says carefully managing organisational culture can positively influence the company’s bottom line. Dr Patric Maerki is the first graduate to complete his studies through a partnership with CSU and the University of Applied Science in Bern, Switzerland. He devised a way to help manage the aspects of corporate culture influencing business performance. “My research into companies in five different industries showed that corporate culture values such as freedom, risk taking, open and shared communication, and respecting employees can be used to enhance operational performance in innovation, organisational alignment and customer orientation, and to increase profits,” said Dr Maerki. CSU’s distance education program attracted Dr Maerki as he could balance his business commitments with the demands of completing a doctorate while receiving support from a Swiss supervisor.

Award-wining artist and Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student Mr Rohan Nicol will reveal his latest works during an exhibition at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The display, titled Crafting Designs on Wealth, will be officially opened by the General Manager of Craft Australia, Ms Catrina Vignando at 5.30pm this Thursday 4 February in the HR Gallop Gallery, CSU in Wagga Wagga. Mr Nicol, who is studying through the School of Communication and Creative Industries, is due to visit Milan, Italy in April to attend the Salone del Mobile furniture fair. The trip follows his win last year in the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award, Australia’s richest design prize. The exhibition at CSU in Wagga Wagga showcases Mr Nicol’s drawing, models, prototypes and commercial products prepared as part of his PhD studies at the University, in which he is investigating a financially sustainable method of craft and design in the studio.

Energy and water saving initiatives at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga have attracted further NSW Government support under its Climate Change Fund. The $75 000 grant through the Fund’s Public Facilities Program will enable CSU to continue to install devices such as timers, energy efficient lighting upgrades, flow control technology for showers, sinks and basins in at least 10 University buildings including student residences, offices and Joyes Hall. Some funds will be used by the University to produce a video showing how the savings are being made. “Charles Sturt University has already invested $300 000 in 2008 to install energy and water saving devices into a number of buildings on Wagga Wagga Campus by the company, Ecosave,” said Energy Manager at CSU Mr Ed Maher. “The latest funding will allow us to further this work and reduce carbon pollution by an estimated 250 tonnes and save over 7.8 million litres of water each year.” The work by Ecosave to install the new devices is due to be completed by March.

The newly-appointed Professor of Paramedic Practice and Leadership at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Biomedical Sciences in Bathurst, Professor Peter O’Meara, has returned from teaching a one week course for paramedics from several states centred around the  US state of Illinois. “They have a very different system in the US to ours in Australia,” Professor O’Meara explained. “The professional practice and management issues are similar, however they have 17 000 ambulance service providers compared to eight in Australia. Services range from very small to moderately sized organisations serving a city or regional community and there are no state-wide services. Many are run by the fire brigade, others by city councils, hospitals and private companies, some for profit and others not-for-profit. In Australia we are well advanced in the education and training of paramedics and ambulance service managers. However, we can learn from experiences in the US where they face challenges over a very large and diverse country. I see potentially great opportunities for the University to extend into the US paramedic education market in partnership with professional associations and other universities involved in paramedic education. I am also pursuing opportunities for CSU paramedic students to undertake clinical placements in the US.”

Commencing on Monday 22 February, Orientation Week  is the traditional start of the university year for new students at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Around 600 students, including part-time students, will commence courses as varied as physiotherapy, teaching, nursing, speech therapy, adventure ecotourism, accountancy and information technology. Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Professor Allan Curtis said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce new students to study and life at CSU. “Orientation Week provides space for students to become familar with their surroundings, staff and other students. CSU staff are ready to respond to queries about courses and subjects, help students find accommodation, and help them make the most of the cultural and sporting acitivities available in Albury-Wodonga,” Professor Curtis said. Major events during the week include: Monday 22 February - Check-in of new residents to the student residences at Thurgoona; Tuesday 23 February - Official welcome to CSU in Albury-Wodonga by acting Head of Campus, Associate Professor John Atkinson; Tuesday 23 February - Market Day for student-run academic, sporting and leisure clubs and local businesses; Wednesday 24 February – Big BBQ for all new students at lunchtime. Students are officially enrolling this day; and, Friday 26 February – Race Around Thurgoona for new students to help get to know their local area and campus.

Starting school can be exciting and, perhaps, a little scary – and that’s just for parents. Two senior education researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have developed guidelines to help parents, teachers and children as they start school. “Starting school is an important milestone in the lives of children and families. If children have a successful start to school, they are likely to stay connected to school and regard it as a positive place to be,” says Professor Bob Perry from CSU. Drawing on over 15 years of research, Professor Perry and Professor Sue Dockett, who research and teach at the University’s Murray School of Education, have led the way for parents and teachers on how to help all involved feel competent and confident when children start school.