The CQCM’s "Big Night In" jazz concert last Friday was a night to be remembered.

The near capacity crowd, which included over 80 'walk-ins', was treated to an eclectic mix of music spanning several genres from the big band sounds of the CQCM Jazz Orchestra to the smooth silky notes of 'radio jazz', then on to the lively rhythms of African music and Reggae.

The full list of finalists has been decided for Rockhampton's High School Newsreader of the Year competition.

Heat 3 was a very tight competition, with judges declaring the female decision a dead heat between Ainsley Windress from Yeppoon State High and Georgene Jeffreys from St Ursula's College, also in Yeppoon.

A looming shortage of information technology recruits is worrying the Australian Government, but providing opportunities for Central Queensland students who can now get paid while learning on the job.

According to Friday's Financial Review (p70, Oct 21), figures presented at a Sydney seminar organised by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) indicated an alarming drop in the number of students enrolling in university IT courses, together with reduced interest in science and mathematics courses in schools.

AUQA (the Australian University Quality Agency) visited CQU Rockhampton this week on the final leg of its scheduled audit of CQU campuses and operations.

AUQA is a national independent agency that conducts audits of higher learning institutions to determine the quality standard of activities in that organisation.

Distinguished visitor Professor Sue Kenny (pictured with CQU's Dr Daniel Teghe) has delivered presentations at CQU Rockhampton on how 'risk society' affects community development practice.

The concept of risk society does not hold that life is necessarily more dangerous than it has been in the past.

CQU’s Dean of the James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems, Professor Elizabeth Taylor has recently returned to Rockhampton after a spate of conference and board meetings throughout the country.

Professor Taylor was a guest speaker at the Australian Financial Review Conference, 'Skilling Australia', in Melbourne, where she spoke about women in engineering and balancing the skills base.

The central and south-eastern Queensland regions will reap the rewards of Regional Centre of the Arts (RCotA) funding through two Central Queensland University projects next year.

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music’s Glenn Hodges and Honorary Professor Ross Quinn (retired ABC Regional Manager) were successful in receiving almost $45,000 in funding to help produce the 2006 Jazz Tour which will provide free jazz concerts to Mackay, Emerald, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Noosa and the Gold Coast.

Central Queensland University's acclaimed STEPS bridging program is to be available to external students in 2006.

It is believed to be Australia’s first external course of this type to be available free of tuition and textbook charges.

CQU business management student Faisal Faisal is close to achieving his dream of becoming the first Iraqi to represent his country in the Winter Olympics.

The Sydney International Campus student has already attracted the attention of the world's media by competing in the sport of skeleton (which involves sliding head first on a small sled down a bobsled track).

Talented dancer Stephanie Bacon has literally 'tapped' her way into an early chance of University study.

The Yeppoon High Year 11 student has been studying a CQU Bachelor of Performing Arts subject called Ethnic, Indigenous and Multicultural Dance Styles.