CQU’s School of Health and Human Performance and researcher Dr Cristina Caperchione have been instrumental in heading up a new student exchange agreement between Australia and Canada.

The new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement facilitates cooperation between CQU and the institution from which Dr Caperchione graduated in Canada, the University of Windsor.

The prime focus of the document is to kick-start a stream of student exchanges between the 2 institutions from 2007 onwards.

Previously, a relationship existed between the 2 universities enabling the exchange of engineering co-op students, however the new agreement will allow students from all study areas to apply for exchange programs.

CQU will host the first 2 Windsor students through this initiative when the student term begins in the first week of March.

University of Windsor’s Christine Simpson and Nicole Kelly have enrolled in the first term of the second year of a Bachelor of Nursing program at the Rockhampton campus. CQU will also be sending 2 nursing students to the University of Windsor in term 2.

It is also expected Human Movement Science and Occupational Health and Safety students will be among the 2008 exchange students.

The University of Windsor is keen to use CQU’s nationally unique Bachelor of Human Movement Science (Industry Co-op) program to place their students in Australian paid industry placements, especially in sports management and ergonomics.

The initiative complements CQU's new Outbound Project, which aims to boost scholarships for students selected for overseas exchange opportunities. The project will give at least 20 outbound CQU students per annum the opportunity to take up an international experience.

Photo: Dr Cristina Caperchione and Dr Peter Reaburn, Head of School of Health and Human Performance, oversee the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Angela Delves.