Central Queensland University's win at the Australian Export Awards (Dec 1, 2005) was remarkable considering it is based in a regional area.

That is according to CQU Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard (pictured below) who accepted the Australian Education International Education Award from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Mark Vaile in Sydney at a gala dinner.

Professor Rickard said the award signals the fantastic achievement of Australian universities in exporting higher education services to the world.

The VC said it was remarkable for a University with its headquarters in Rockhampton, Central Queensland to establish such a phenomenal export practice.

He said CQU now had a higher proportion of international students than any other Australian university.

Professor Rickard said CQU now derived 50 per cent of its income from international students.

He said CQU's success was a wonderful example of a public/private partership between Campus Group Holdings and CQU (operating as C Management Services), providing the best of collegiality and the corporate.

The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the fantastic contribution of staff from Campus Group Holdings and CQU.

The University has experienced its best year for export growth, with a 38.6% boost to international enrolments (compared with an industry average for Australia of 4.6%).

CQU has retained its first in Queensland ranking for the most international full-degree students onshore and is now ranked second in Australia in this category.

The University has a total of 24,102 students, with a little over half (12,515) international and a little less than half (11,587) domestic.

The University’s model of export success has been the powerhouse behind its growth and global reach.

International students from more than 120 overseas countries study with CQU. Around half (more than $100 million) of the University’s total income is generated from export revenue.

CQU’s distributed network of campus operations range from five regional Queensland campuses to four CBD campuses in Australia and four offshore delivery sites in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Fiji, plus distance education.

The University has strong commercial partnerships for the delivery of international education activity, including those with C Management Services (an Australian-based company which is half-owned by CQU) and Raffles Education Corporation based in Singapore.ENDS.

Photo above: Professor Ken Hawkins (CMS), Professor Debbie Clayton (CQU) and Peter Bakker (CMS) celebrate the award in Sydney on Thursday night.