CQUniversity Melbourne International Campus recently hosted a successful public lecture by Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) Director, Professor John Rolfe, on 'The Contribution of Regional Universities to their Region and to International Education in Australia'...

The attendees included renowned education expert Professor Kwong Lee Dow, Dr Sharon Winocur, Executive Director of the Business Higher Education Round Table, and Stephen Carthew of Regional Development Victoria, as well as representatives from La Trobe University, RMIT University, Melbourne campus staff, agents and students.

Professor John Rolfe

The event also attracted the interest of Dr Hua Ren from The Murdoch Children's Research Institute.

Discussion followed, featuring Dr Alex Millmow (University of Ballarat) and Liz Sidiropoulos (Melbourne Campus) and lively contributions from the audience.

The event was chaired by Professor Paul Rodan (International Education Research Centre), who took the opportunity to remind the Victorian audience that international education was now the state's top export earner.

Professor Rolfe presented a strong case for regional universities, focusing on their overall contribution to local economies and in providing educational opportunities for a wide range of socio-economic groups. They also served to make local regional communities more attractive to potential "settlers".

Another Melbourne public forum is planned for November 24, when the key speaker will be Australia's leading higher education policy analyst Professor Simon Marginson from The University of Melbourne.

Organised by the International Education Research Centre, the forum will address current and emerging issues in international education.