With almost $74 million now available for a proposed dual sector merger and engineering developments, CQUniversity now has a responsibility to create a 'revolution' in post-school education across the region.

That's according to Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, who was speaking to community leaders and staff from the University and Central Queensland Institute of TAFE (CQIT), acknowledging how the funding will be used in coming years.

LINK also to CQUni welcomes $73.8m boost for dual sector and engineering

MP Kirsten Livermore fronts the media scrum

Professor Bowman welcomed the 'early Christmas present' as fantastic news and said he was confident the final due diligence stage of the merger process would progress well.

"We want Central Queensland to not only be a major resource centre but also a significant education hub," he said.

Member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore also spoke at the funding announcement, saying CQUniversity was now ready to fulfil its potential by introducing seamless and integrated VET and higher education, as well as by super-charging research.

Ms Livermore said the federal government welcomed having strong partners willing to implement 'bold and ambitious' plans to help 'grab hold' of its agenda for higher education.

Plenty of Uni staff and community leaders were on hand to witness the announcement. Photo courtesy Greg Chapman, CQIT

"We have been helping universities imagine their future for the best way to serve their communities and the country as a whole.

"It is recognised by the federal government that CQUni really gets it about what the future requires. We're all on board for the work that comes next."

CQIT Director Gary Kinnon congratulated Professor Bowman and Ms Livermore for obtaining the funding, saying the project would bring immense benefits to the people of Central Queensland.  

Mr Kinnon said that throughout his career with TAFE he had looked forward to a seamless pathway to take students from Certificate 1 right through to university degrees.

"We'll be able to offer students of all ages this seamless pathway throughout their education," he said.