Central Queensland University is moving forward with confidence and growing enrolments after being benchmarked, audited and awarded at national and State levels.

The Rockhampton-based University has undergone a major restructure of faculties and is renewing course options to help its Queensland regional campuses keep pace with its Australian capital city and overseas international campuses, the growth of which have contributed to an overall vibrancy and viability of the institution. Student numbers across the campus network are now above 25,000.

CQU offers a range of options for students, including bridging programs to equip them for tertiary study, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate coursework degrees and postgraduate by research degrees. Many degrees are available by distance education or offer a combination of on-campus, off-campus and on-line learning.

The University, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2007, has a strong reputation with employers and industry-relevant programs (some involving paid job placements), contributing to student satisfaction and employment success.

Degrees are available in fields including built environment and design; business and tourism; creative and performing arts; education; engineering and technology; health and recreation; humanities and social sciences; information technology; primary industries and environment and sciences. A full list of the latest options can be found at: http://handbook.cqu.edu.au CQU has welcomed the recent Australian Universities Quality Agency's (AUQA) report which cited it as amongst best practice in Australia for ensuring consistency of course delivery and student participation across its multiple teaching sites.

Meanwhile, CQU fared well in a benchmarking comparison conducted by consultants on behalf of the Australian Universities International Directors' Forum. The University achieved better than average comparisons in all but 2 of 22 categories and achieved best practice in 3 categories (highest number of students recruited, best conversion rate of applications to offers, and best conversion rate for postgraduate applications to commencements).

Late last year, CQU was proud to receive its second Australian Education International Education Award , recognising its leadership in international education.

Central Queensland University has been recognised in the Large Business category of the Queensland Multicultural Awards announced in conjunction with a festival in Brisbane during May this year.

The award citation reads: "With students and staff from more than 130 countries, Central Queensland University is one of Australia's most culturally diverse universities. It is the number 1 education destination of choice for students from 33 countries and around 52% of students are international students, the highest proportion of all Australian universities. In 2005, CQU was named Exporter of the Year at the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards and the Australian Export Awards, acknowledging its business success and its dramatic 38.6% increase in international enrolments compared with the national average of 4.6%". ENDS