Australia's reigning education exporter of the year, Central Queensland University has extended its links in Asia via a Memorandum of Understanding to explore research synergies and staff and student exchange with City University of Hong Kong.

The new link complements CQU's existing degree programs offered with Hong Kong College of Technology and those under development with Hartford Institute, a specialised private provider of higher education in Hong Kong.

City University of Hong Kong is one of eight universities funded by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and has 18,000 students.

The new memorandum was signed by CQU Vice-Chancellor Professor Glenice Hancock and City University of Hong Kong Acting President Professor David S.Y. Tong in the presence of senior officers from both institutions.

Professor Hancock and other senior CQU officers also visited CQU delivery sites and partner organisations in Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China in conjunction with their visit to City University of Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, CQU's innovative global operations and $93 million in export sales for 2002/2003 has helped it win the Education Category for the 2003 CQ Regional Export Awards (judged in late September). It is now eligible for selection for the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards on October 22 in Brisbane and could be in contention for the national export award finals in Sydney on December 4.

CQU has an extensive flexible global learning network that includes partners, teaching facilities, exam centres and graduation venues, serving up to 20,000 students in 103 countries.

ENDS For details call Dean of International Programs Professor Debbie Clayton via 4930 6574 .

Caption 1: Director of CQU International Kathy Ramm, Vice-Chancellor Professor Glenice Hancock and Director of the State Development Centre (Rockhampton) Brad Carter inspect the certificate and trophy presented to CQU as winner of the Education Category at the 2003 CQ Regional Export Awards.

Caption 2: The new memorandum was signed by CQU Vice-Chancellor Professor Glenice Hancock and City University of Hong Kong Acting President Professor David S.Y. Tong in the presence of (from left): Dr John Ho (Associate Dean, School of Law, City U); Professor L.K. Chan (Dean, Faculty of Business, City U); Professor Catherine Smith (Dean of Faculty of Business & Law, CQU), Professor Debbie Clayton (Dean of International Programs, CQU); Mrs Diana Ying (Director, Academic Exchange Office, City U).