Central Queensland University has agreed to co-operate with England's University of Brighton to develop an international network of academic institutions involved in community informatics.

The emerging discipline of community informatics encompasses the use of information and communication systems to support services, development and action in communities. CQU Dean of Informatics and Communication, Professor Stewart Marshall has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with University of Brighton Vice-Chancellor Sir David Watson, who was visiting Ipswich to attend a conference on higher education and community engagement.

The Memorandum identifies potential cooperation in development of academic programs, course resources, research events, journals, research and policy papers, and staff and student exchanges. It aims to encourage development of national and international community informatics programs. CQU's Community Informatics Research Group has been developing links with similar groups in universities around the world to form a network of academics interested in researching the engagement of civil society in the information age. ENDS For details call Professor Stewart Marshall via 0418 874 903.

Caption: Signing the memorandum are (from left) Dr Wal Taylor and Professor Stewart Marshall (CQU) with Professor Sir David Watson and Dr Peter Day (Brighton University).