CQU Brisbane campusCentral Queensland University acquired full ownership last week of international education management company, C_Management Services (CMS), from its joint venture partner Sydney-based Global Campus Management (GCM).

"We have had an incredibly successful relationship. This is an outcome that both parties worked hard to achieve and we are very happy about it," said CQU Vice Chancellor and President John Rickard, acknowledging the end of CQU's 13-year-old partnership with GCM and its Chairman Mark Skinner.

"Mark is probably one of the most progressive and responsive business leaders in the education field. He contributed significantly to the University's capability and helped place CQU at the leading edge of educational services designed for the international marketplace," added Professor Rickard.

Under the deal approved by CQU Council earlier this month, key CMS management and staff are retained, ensuring uninterrupted service to approximately 6000 international students located at the University's Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast campuses.

CMS, now a wholly owned subsidiary of CQU, will continue to operate as distinct from the University and remain an entirely commercial entity. CQU and CMS, however, will develop new management, governance and academic structures and protocols, including a restructured CMS Board with independent Directors, which will allow for better corporate governance and transparency.

"Under this new arrangement our international and domestic interests become more fully integrated and our overall commitment to achieving successful outcomes for all our customers is strengthened," said Professor Rickard.

CQU's unique international education model was controversial and groundbreaking in the early 1990s when it established Central Queensland University campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. CMS enabled CQU to become the largest provider of education to international university students studying in Australia in 2006.

"Our public-private partnership was innovative at the time. We did not conform to traditional universities and that made it impossible to compare CQU to any other. It was not without its challenges but the partnership was fruitful for both organisations and it changed the landscape of higher education in Australia forever. Most importantly, CQU and CMS staff have and will continue to focus on successful outcomes and service for students," added Professor Rickard.