It was amazing how many eyes were filled with wonder about university when 67 Parkhurst State School Year 6 and 7 students descended on CQUniversity Rockhampton campus for a three-day program last week.

The program aimed to raise awareness and build aspirations towards higher education by helping students view this pathway as a viable option.

Parkhurst State School students Dylan Hall, Daniel Simpson and Joshua Goodsall enjoyed the CQUniversity's hospitality during the outreach program.

Outreach program officer Lyndal Gawen said that, as with most ambitious initiatives, the discoveries were astonishing.

"Not only are Year 6 and 7 students incredibly willing to learn, which makes them very engaging, but what they already know and are prepared to explore is amazing."

"Perhaps the World Wide Web and children's television can be thanked for the unexpected desire to want to know more about a large variety of topics.

"Starting to introduce students to university and what it has to offer at a young age really fits with today's children."

This Outreach program for primary school age children has been based on successful models implemented in the UK.

Cyrilla Hannan, Kelsee Haynes and Courtney Jones enjoyed learning about university and careers during CQUni's outreach program for primary students.The introduction of primary school students to university also fits well with the recommendations made by the Bradley Review.

The Review's target set for every university in Australia is to increase the higher education rate from 29% of Australians (between the ages of 25 and 35 holding a bachelor degree) to 40% by 2020.

The University will expand its reach into primary schools in the coming months with more children scheduled to participate in the program.

Parkhurst students enjoy the physical education activities in the sports complex.