Rockhampton-based Central Queensland University will embark on a 2-year $40-million university-wide cost-saving and aggressive marketing plan to adjust to the changing patterns of international and domestic student enrolments, it was announced yesterday (June 13) by the Vice Chancellor to about 50 of the University's most senior managers.

"We need to reassess and reconfigure for what will emerge down the road," explained Vice Chancellor and President John Rickard, referring to what he believes is a long-term challenge faced by "regional" universities operating in robust, natural-resources-based economies, such as Queensland.

"We are not in a crisis today because we're coming off three very strong years in our performance but the facts are that we have to act now. Domestic full-time enrolments on average have been down 10% to 15% over recent years and that trend is likely to continue due to the boom here and the availability of jobs and training relating to the mining and resources industries," explained Professor Rickard.

Central Queensland has twice the national rate of people taking-up apprenticeships.

Cost savings will also be made in the other half of CQU, its international operation, which has experienced a recent significant decline in student demand as well.

"We're feeling the effects of changed government policy and changing consumer demand in the international student market. Our growth in that area over the last few years has been extraordinary and industry-leading but it can not be sustained so we're making a targeted effort there as well to see how we can operate more efficiently," said Professor Rickard.

"There will be a positive outcome at the end of this and that will be a healthier, more viable University better positioned for the future," said Professor Rickard.

The University, last month, announced plans to significantly reduce by 200 the number of individuals working on fixed-term contracts. This new initiative will see savings made in non-salary and human resources expenditure at CQU and within its joint venture C_MS, which manages CQU's four international campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Gold Coast.

"There is nothing more important than people in any organisation and I am doing all that I can to look after their interests and balance that against the needs of the community and what we can sustain. They are equally important. We will prioritize what we need to do and are committed to maintaining and improving the standard of programs and quality of our service to students. We can and need to do both," the Vice Chancellor told his front-line managers.