The university year started two weeks early for a group of students who attended Central Queensland University’s Uni Skills workshops in Gladstone this week. Student Counsellor, Pam Brown said the Uni Skills program was designed to help first-year students develop the skills and knowledge they needed to do well in their studies.

“University is a new environment for our first-year students and these workshops give them the opportunity to get a head start on developing new skills such as taking lecture notes and time management.

“We’ve had excellent numbers for the classes this year so it looks like our first-year students are going to be a keen bunch.

“This type of support is also offered to all students throughout the year by our Communications and Mathematics Learning Centres.

Mrs Brown said although the Uni Skills program was optional, all 140 first-year students were required to attend Orientation Week activities which begin next Monday.

“Orientation Week at the Gladstone campus is a very busy time for both students and staff with a variety of academic and social activities on offer.

“Students will be given a lot of very important information during the week and it’s essential for them to attend,” said Mrs Brown.

Orientation Week begins on Monday with a commencement ceremony and concludes on Thursday.

Photo: L-R Tanya Simons, Rosemary Sajdl and Craig Dobbin gave an oral presentation on "glasses" during Uni Skills Week