SDG4 Quality Education

Specific Events in 2023

• iActivate in Toowoomba- social entrepreneurs from the Toowoomba region undertook the iActivate program to build a better future for their region. iActivate is an affordable and self-paced online short course designed for aspiring and early-stage social entrepreneurs. This course aims to help participants move from concept to impactful action within the social enterprise sector. The course covers aspects of starting a business including understanding business for good ecosystems, sustainable and innovative business models, prototyping a social enterprise startup and collaboration, scaling, and measuring impact. Upon completion, students will be equipped to manage their business ventures more effectively, and pursue careers in social enterprises and businesses focused on positive social change. The iActivate program was also delivered in Far North Queensland, as well as a program designed for regional female founders. The iActivate Regional Female Founder Accelerator program is curated by women, for women, and addresses specific challenges for driving innovative business and social impact in regional Queensland. 
• The Social Shift- CQUniversity social impact experts recently facilitated a series of workshops in the Bundaberg region aimed at grant recipients and individuals interested in social innovation. This initiative is funded by the Department of Social Services under the Local Services Plans - Community-Led Support Fund. Led by the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre (HBNC) in collaboration with CQUniversity, this program focuses on place-based community development. It seeks to address the social needs and aspirations of communities in the Hinkler region, including Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, and surrounding areas. The workshops are designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster social innovation and improve community well-being. By engaging local residents and stakeholders, the initiative aims to create sustainable solutions that respond to the unique challenges faced by these communities.
• Hydrogen Grand Prix- The Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) is an innovative school-based science and engineering program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in Queensland's renewable technology sector. This unique initiative is the only global competition for high school students, allowing them to spend two school terms focused on renewable energy. Participants learn to design, build, and refine remote-controlled fuel cell electric vehicles, which they race in a series of endurance competitions. The H2GP challenges young innovators to engineer their own hydrogen-powered vehicles. Throughout the program, students develop creativity, ingenuity, and practical problem-solving skills essential for addressing future energy challenges. The culmination of their efforts is the annual H2GP World Cup, where the best teams compete head-to-head, showcasing their innovative designs and engineering capabilities. This hands-on experience not only enhances students' technical skills but also fosters teamwork and collaboration, preparing them to be the next generation of leaders in the renewable energy sector. For further details, you can learn more about the program here.
• Uni Boot Camp for ADF Members- CQUniversity is supporting the local Australian Defence Force (ADF) community with the Townsville campus launching the Military Academic Pathway Program (MAPP) - the first of its kind for the region.

Programmed Events in 2023

• Young Engineers Lego Club- CQUniversity hosted workshops in seven regional Queensland towns to school students from Years 1 to 8. During school holidays, dedicated primary school students across Queensland participate in the Young Engineers Summer Workshops hosted by CQUniversity. These workshops, open to children in Years 1-6, and took place in various regions including Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Fraser Coast, and North Queensland. The program emphasizes the application of LEGO® beyond play, teaching children to build and code complex systems relevant to fields like aviation, engineering, and space. Participants learned to construct LEGO® models that illustrated topics such as gears, belt transmissions, and various STEM subjects, while also honing collaborative skills, teamwork, and creativity. The program aims to inspire future careers in mechanical, civil, and software engineering, emphasizing the expanding opportunities for young girls in STEM fields. 
  The Young Engineers Workshops are scheduled during school holiday periods, with further details available on the Young Engineers Central Queensland Facebook page.
• Festival of Change- We want to change the world for the better – and through social innovation, our students, staff, academics, and communities are all driving the transformation. The Festival of Change is our free social innovation festival, designed to celebrate and inspire change-making. The annual Festival of Change will focus on opportunities to transform communities, develop social enterprise, grow resilience, and drive positive change. The two-week festival features free events across nine campuses and online to celebrate and encourage social innovation. Festival of Change is part of CQUniversity’s work as an Ashoka U Changemaker University, and Australia’s first social enterprise university certified by Social Traders. 
• Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum-  the Annual Forum is open to the public and brings together workers and champions to learn, share, inspire and work together to keep our families strong.
• QMEA events are hosted on the Gladstone campus.
• NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across our many campuses.

• The Annual Health Workforce Academy Virtual Conference  2023- The 2023 Virtual Health Workforce Academy Conference welcomes participants to engage in a rich exchange of health workforce knowledge and research findings. Under the theme "United Through Research," this two-day event features keynote speakers and presentations from experts across Australia and internationally, including speakers from Fiji, Sweden, Kazakhstan, and Lithuania. The conference aims to foster networking opportunities and robust discussions among attendees, enhancing collaboration and learning in health workforce research. The Health Workforce Academy, focuses on building strong research partnerships between the health workforce industry and academia. It emphasizes enhancing research education and training for health workforce researchers, supporting graduates in applying advanced research skills across various healthcare sectors. With a vision of developing comprehensive research excellence, the academy draws on the strengths of three schools: the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences; the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences; and the School of Business and Law.
• Prawn Industry Technology Workshops- This online resource is available to the public and provides digital skills development in a number of areas identified by Australian Prawn Farmers as being key to business success and workforce development. These include knowledge and skills relating to digital literacy, technology operation, data management, monitoring, analysis, & interpretation, digital communication, and incident management in the prawn farming context. 
• iActivate- CQUniversity and impact-led business Impact Boom are collaborating to offer iActivate – a self-paced, ultra-flexible and affordable online short course, to guide aspiring and early-stage social entrepreneurs from idea to impact.
• We offer a range of professional development courses to the general public. View our suite of courses that include arts, social innovation, First Nations, business, digital media, psychology, health, agriculture, and many more. 
• Our vocational education and training short courses are open to the general public, with many offered at no cost for eligible applicants. Enhance your work skills or explore new hobbies through our diverse selection of short courses, which include fashion, food, work readiness, health and wellbeing, business, and management. For eligible participants, government subsidies significantly reduce the cost of vocational courses to low or even zero tuition fees, making education more accessible. These subsidies are strategically aligned with the workforce demands in specific industries, ensuring that training meets current job market needs. Explore our offerings and discover how you can take advantage of these subsidized courses to improve your skills or pursue your passions.
• Festival of Change- We want to change the world for the better – and through social innovation, our students, staff, academics, and communities are all driving the transformation. The Festival of Change is our free social innovation festival, designed to celebrate and inspire change-making. The annual Festival of Change will focus on opportunities to transform communities, develop social enterprise, grow resilience, and drive positive change. The two-week festival features free events across nine campuses and online to celebrate and encourage social innovation. Festival of Change is part of CQUniversity’s work as an Ashoka U Changemaker University, and Australia’s first social enterprise university certified by Social Traders. 
• Young Engineers Lego Club- CQUniversity hosted workshops in seven regional Queensland towns to school students from Years 1 to 8. During school holidays, dedicated primary school students across Queensland participate in the Young Engineers Summer Workshops hosted by CQUniversity. These workshops, open to children in Years 1-6, and took place in various regions including Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Fraser Coast, and North Queensland. The program emphasizes the application of LEGO® beyond play, teaching children to build and code complex systems relevant to fields like aviation, engineering, and space. Participants learned to construct LEGO® models that illustrated topics such as gears, belt transmissions, and various STEM subjects, while also honing collaborative skills, teamwork, and creativity. The program aims to inspire future careers in mechanical, civil, and software engineering, emphasizing the expanding opportunities for young girls in STEM fields. 
  The Young Engineers Workshops are scheduled during school holiday periods, with further details available on the Young Engineers Central Queensland Facebook page.

We participate in outreach activities and collaborations to encourage increased participation by women in areas where they are historically underrepresented. Explore stories of our activities, workshops and projects that occurred in 2023.

• Indigenous Girls Academy- A CQUniversity-led program that works with young girls at Mount Morgan State High School and Baralaba State School to encourage them to stay in school. Thirty-five Indigenous girls from Mt Morgan State High School and Baralaba State School participated in the Indigenous Girls Academy Leadership Camp at CQUniversity’s Rockhampton North Campus. Now in its second year, the camp is held in partnership with the Q-Coal Foundation and is based on principles of respectful relationships, strength-based approaches, and cultural support. The four-day camp provided opportunities for the girls to experience life at the student residence, attend TAFE and university classes, and engage in cultural activities. The camp included resume-writing workshops, boxing, traditional art sessions, and cultural insights from female elders. The event focused on empowering the girls, encouraging them to stay in school, and fostering pride in their Indigenous heritage, reinforcing their sense of identity and strength as young Indigenous women.
• Women Who Weld- The program, held at CQUniversity’s TAFE Trade Training Centre in Mackay, aims to tackle Australia’s skills shortage in male-dominated sectors, such as industrial welding. Over 45 Year 10 students participated in a two-day workshop supported by the Queensland Manufacturing Institute (QMI), BMA, Mackay Regional Council, CQUniversity, and the Whitsunday STEM Challenge. The program introduces young women to welding and the broader manufacturing industry, encouraging greater gender diversity in trades where 76% of jobs are held by men. It aims to boost female participation in trade pathways and expose students to various career opportunities in sectors like aerospace, biomedical, and defence. Through hands-on experience and interactions with women working in manufacturing, the initiative seeks to build confidence and challenge gender norms. Industry leaders, including Cummins and Monadelphous, provided mentorship, underscoring the need for skilled workers in these critical fields.
• WinTech Society- The Women in Technology (WinTECH) Society has developed free online workshops teaching students skills in data science using Excel and Python software. The project empowers women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths + Computing (STEM+C) education. Through annual workshops, the club aims to address the gender disparity in STEM+C by fostering interest and confidence in female students. The project investigates the impact of interventions on self-efficacy, designs strategies for classroom integration, and promotes female students' interest and confidence. It has established partnerships, engaged diverse audiences, and built a network for STEM+C education advocacy. 
• Women in Agri-tech project – The project aims to create a network of female teachers who will lead in digital literacy, STEM, and entrepreneurship in regional, rural, and remote areas. Guided by female researchers and professionals, these teachers will develop engaging educational resources to inspire girls in the classroom. The project also includes an agri-tech accelerator competition, offering female students the opportunity to further develop entrepreneurship skills. With the agricultural sector undergoing digital transformation, there is a growing demand for STEM and entrepreneurial expertise. Women are currently underrepresented in this field, comprising only 30% of the agricultural workforce and even fewer in leadership roles. The project seeks to inspire the next generation of women to explore careers in agri-tech, helping to bridge this gender gap.
• Women in STEM –  with only one-quarter of students studying STEM in Australia being women, we aim to inspire young women to pursue careers in science through programs and events through STEM Central. Events such as these work to change society's gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of women in STEM.
• Queensland Centre of Domestic and Family Violence Research – Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (QCDFVR) is based in Mackay and contributes to the prevention of domestic and family violence by informing, promoting and supporting the actions of individuals, communities, services and governments through state-wide leadership in research, professional development, education and community engagement.
• Seven Women – our university through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs” has partnered with Nepal-based social enterprise, Seven Women, for project collaboration and global study experiences. Seven Women has helped thousands of disadvantaged and disabled women through education, training, health and income generation programs. The Seven Women range is available through the Bookshop thanks to a collaboration with the Office of Social Innovation, and every purchase supports women in Nepal through education, training, health and income-generation programs.

General

• Widening Participation Strategy – we have a widening participation strategy that aims to promote higher education to low socioeconomic, regional and remote, and indigenous school students and sees our Connect team partnering with schools to deliver programs outreach programs.
• CQU Connect engages with school partners to deliver outreach for Year 6 to Year 12 students via independent learning modules, classroom activities and on campus events. We work to raise aspirations towards tertiary education and ensure students from regional, remote, low socio-economic and First Nation communities develop confidence by feeling connect to tertiary education. Via this program we work in partnership with other institutions and focus on encouraging students towards any tertiary education options they desire although we of course hope to see them graduate from CQUniversity one day.
• Principal's Recommendation Scheme - Our Principal’s Recommendation Scheme is an early offer scheme that allows Year 12 students to apply to an undergraduate CQUniversity course based on the recommendation of their high school Principal rather than ATAR.

STEM

• CQ Junior Robotics Competition – Registration is open to students from Years 4 to 12 in Central Queensland, provides an engaging environment for young minds to develop skills in problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork. Hosted annually by CQUniversity since 2002, the event offers various categories, including soccer, dance, and rescue, allowing participants to explore robotics in ways that align with their interests. This educational initiative highlights the fun and excitement of science, engineering, and technology through a hands-on, multidisciplinary approach. Students work on designing and programming robots to tackle real-world challenges, learning to adapt to complex and changing environments. The competition promotes collaboration and encourages students to broaden their knowledge across disciplines such as computing, mathematics, and artificial intelligence. Participants come from across the Central Queensland region to Rockhampton, and many go on to succeed at state and national levels. Academic staff and robotics enthusiasts offer guidance, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for the students. The event not only inspires a love for science and technology but also fosters community engagement and introduces students to the exciting possibilities within these fields.
• Connecting STEM with Music- The 2023 STEM meets Symphony workshop at CQUniversity Gladstone brought together Year 4 and 5 students passionate about both music and STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This hands-on event, now in its third year, was organized in collaboration with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and CQUniversity's STEM Central, supported by Australia Pacific LNG and operated by ConocoPhillips. Participants explored how music and STEM intersect through activities such as crafting instruments and understanding the role of science and technology in music. Queensland Symphony Orchestra percussionists shared their expertise, inspiring the students to explore new creative possibilities. This unique initiative fosters creativity and curiosity, helping young students discover innovative connections between the arts and STEM.
• Young Engineers Lego Club- CQUniversity hosted workshops in seven regional Queensland towns to school students from Years 1 to 8.
• Young Engineers Summer Holiday Workshops- CQUniversity hosted workshops over school holidays to launch kids into STEM

Arts

• Choices Program – A theatre project that promotes key safety messages and education around alcohol, drugs and sexual activity for young people, by young people, using a music theatre format of comic skits, songs and dance. The Choices project tours secondary schools throughout central and north Queensland every year in preparation for Schoolies.
• Safety Circus – Operating since 2013, the Safety Circus project is an award-winning project of the CQCM in partnership with the Mackay Crime Prevention Unit of the Queensland Police Service and the Daniel Morecombe Foundation. It is a 50-minute music theatre show aimed at Year 2 students to teach them about personal safety, safety on non-motorised transport and dealing with bullying. Written by Hannah Barn with music by Professor Judith Brown AM, The Safety Circus is performed by students from the Bachelor of Theatre degree and directed by CQCM theatre alumni. It tours to primary schools throughout the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions of Queensland each year.
• CQ Conservatorium of Music Summer Performance – The CQCM's Summer Spectacular is a week-long intensive theatre program designed for high school students aged 12 to 18. Participants have the chance to enhance their musical theatre skills under the guidance of a professional music theatre director and award-winning staff from the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM). The program culminates in a public performance, the Summer Spectacular concert, where students showcase their talents. Admission to the concert is free for the public.
• CQ Schools Jazz Festival- The festival is a unique event in Central Queensland that provides students with performance and development opportunities in jazz. Since 2012, participants have benefited from masterclasses, clinics, and adjudicated performances led by world-class musicians and educators. These sessions help young musicians grow their skills in an encouraging and educational environment. Past clinicians have included renowned artists such as James Morrison, Jeff Jarvis, and Greg Spence. The festival celebrates the region's talented students and is a valuable opportunity for jazz education in regional Queensland.
• Conservatorium Academy- The Conservatorium Academy is a centre for creative and performing arts training for school-age children in Central Queensland.  The aim of this program is to provide music and theatre training as an extension to the dance, drama and music classes that young people may already be engaged in.
• Connecting STEM with Music- over 70 primary school students experienced the connection between STEM and music at the STEM meeting Symphony workshop

Agriculture

• RACE - Gippsland will deliver a range of hands-on, interactive, and engaging activities to primary and secondary students focused on raising aspirations in agriculture and building student capacity in STEM, digital technologies, agribusiness, manufacturing and food and fibre concepts.
• RACE- Goulburn brings local Agriculture to the classroom, inspiring students to build their capacity in STEM, digital technologies, agribusiness, manufacturing, food, and fibre

• Project Booyah – we are a training partner in Project Booyah which provides educational opportunities for at-risk young people. It is a partnership between the University and the Queensland Police Force.
• Smith Family Learning for Life program – we partner with The Smith Family to deliver the Learning for Life Program. The Smith Family is a charity that supports financially disadvantaged young people with assistance in maintaining their educational aspirations. The University is working with Rockhampton and Mackay Learning for Life staff to open up pathways to higher education for scholarship families, through information sessions and by supplying families with university program and scholarship information.
• Seagrass: Citizen Scientist Program – This initiative engages volunteer community members to collect seagrass flowers in Gladstone Harbour, for the final harvest of the season.  This is part of the Sea Flowers: Growing Community Engagement for Seagrass Restoration Project and teaches volunteers how to work together to ensure the restoration of the vital flora.
• WinTECH Society  – The Women in Technology (WinTECH) Society has developed free online workshops teaching students skills in data science using Excel and Python software. The workshops encourage students to choose STEM career paths.
• Gladstone’s STEM Central – It’s a state-of-the-art experience that takes science, technology, engineering and mathematics out of the classroom and into the real world, one of the highlights of STEM Central has been the diversity of people who use of the facility – from five-year-old children getting their first experience of flying a drone, primary and high school groups from right across the region, then Indigenous elders, and even senior citizens.
• Student Health Clinics – Our Student Health Clinics operate in Rockhampton, Mackay, Sydney, and Brisbane. These clinics are a collaboration between health care practitioners and our students to deliver local health services in oral health, speech pathology, physiotherapy, podiatry, and chiropractic services.
• Australian Defence Force Reservists – Several CQUniversity employees are active in the ADF Reserves and are often deployed to operations in response to various natural disasters that impact on all Australians including bushfires and catastoiphic flooding. Our commitment to supporting staff to engage in such activity led to it being announced as the 2020 Defence Reserve Employer Support Award winner under the not-for-profit organisation category.

Studying abroad for a year, term, or even just a couple of weeks is a very rewarding and educational experience. Students have opportunities to travel, make friends from around the world, enhance employment prospects, and possibly even learn another language. Above all, they will gain a fresh perspective on the world around them. We are all part of an increasingly globalised world and international study gives students a cultural awareness and life experience that will set them apart from their peers.

CQUniversity is reintroducing international travel and global outreach activities with the following occurring in 2023:

• Bangladesh School- CQUniversity academic Olav Muurlink heads a charity that is building and running cyclone-proof schools in Bangladesh.
• Wildlife Law and Protection in Vietnam- The tour partners with Education for Nature Vietnam and Vietnam National University School of Law and allows CQUniversity law students to understand first-hand the legal, cultural and environmental context of wildlife protection and illegal trafficking.
• New Colombo Plan- scholarships were awarded to three CQUniversity undergraduates to travel to our Indo-Pacific neighbours.
• CQUniversity's School of Nursing' Midwifery and Social Sciences (SNMSS) in Mackay partnered with Rotary to deliver workshop programs to a group of nurses and midwives from Timor-Leste.
• Bachelor of Education students travelled to Cambodia to provide education to children from Koh Dach Primary School.
• Pokhara Fishtail Hospital, Nepal - CQUniversity students on clinical placements shadowed staff at Nepal's Fishtail Hospital. Exposing them to areas such as paediatrics, intensive care, medical and surgical, theatre, maternity, outpatient clinics, renal dialysis, accident and emergency, and medical imaging. They also provided health assessments and education to locals in rural villages.
• Salaam Baalak Trust, India - CQUniversity is a partner with the Salaam Baalak Trust and supports its WALK project. CQUniversity health students visit Salaam Baalak and participate in local health projects.

You can find out more on our CQUGlobal Outbound page.

Our students benefit from access to educations resources such as computers, library, online courses, lecturers and other learning resources as follows:

• Library (free access) – our students, alumni, the general public, and students from other universities can borrow from our libraries as per our Library guidelines.
• Computers (free access) – students from other universities are able to access our wireless network (eduroam) from our facilities as per our eduroam guidelines. Visitors may be able to use computer facilities as a “visitor” in accordance with our Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure (refer Clause 3.2).
• Online courses (free access) – the general public can access our Bachelor of Laws course material via  iTunes U.
• Courses (fees apply) – our courses are available for community members and the general public to study. We offer professional development courses that can be studied without needing to apply and enrol in a full degree (an award course). We also offer a range of short courses for the general public and community to follow a personal interest or passion. Like our Professional Development Courses, our short courses do not require you to be enrolled in a degree. We also provide single non-award study opportunities that enable those not interested in studying a full degree to study a single unit without having to enrol in the degree.
• Courses (Fully subsidised) - Our vocational education and training short courses are open for enrolment all year. Many courses are fully subsidised for eligible applicants.

Our Equity Policy ensures that we take all necessary steps to create a safe, fair, equitable and inclusive learning and work environment. It ensures that no matter your ethnicity, religion, disability or gender you have access to activities, programs and opportunities provided and delivered by our university. This policy also guides us as we take a positive role in informing and educating students and staff of their rights and responsibilities in fostering a learning community that values equality. We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation in any form.