The CQ region, which once helped Australia ride on the sheep’s back, is now more influential in other export areas.

The latest (ABS) statistics show that, of the top 11 Australian exports, CQ makes a significant input to coal, tourism, education, beef, aluminium and wheat.

Of these, education has been the star performer and the only export area showing consistent growth, despite recent world turmoil.

The CQ region’s contribution has been ramped up over the past decade via CQU’s rapid growth to become Queensland’s top provider of international education and Australia’s 5th biggest provider (based on the latest statistics from IDP Education Australia Ltd).

CQU Dean (International Programs) Professor Debbie Clayton said the University currently teaches 6168 international students in Australia (or 37.9 per cent of its total onshore students). It teaches a total of 7136 international students (onshore and offshore), representing 41.4 per cent of its total student population.

While only a few hundred of these overseas students come to CQU Rockhampton each term, this campus is the academic and administrative hub for all the others spread throughout CQU’s network. Hundreds of CQU Rockhampton staff and other CQU employees in the CQ region are directly involved in supporting the University’s international operations.

This network includes delivery sites and campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Suva, Chengdu (China), Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as many other places via distance education. ENDS