Global aid vision for CQUniversity explored
Published on 03 December, 2008
CQUniversity students could spend up to 3 months working with an aid agency overseas if a survey to be conducted in the new year shows staff and students are in favour of the proposal...
Mathematics lecturer Dr Rob McDougall and biology lecturer Dr Bret Heath are leading the push for CQUniversity to be a leading institution in broadening work-integrated learning options to include work for aid agencies in Australia and overseas in all disciplines of tertiary study.
Dr Bret Heath and Dr Rob McDougall are excited by the possibility of students working for an aid agency overseas as part of their degree.The academics are proposing that a course be devised that calls on the student to use and extend their university and career-based skills to help with domestic and overseas aid projects.
Students, who could be working individually or in groups, would be required to fulfil assessment criteria through regular reporting, portfolio or blogging.
Dr McDougall said the initiative hopes to enrich the learning experiences of students while fulfilling global community obligations.
He sees the project as a way for CQUniversity to position itself through a global vision with the ability to respond locally.
Dr Heath believes the proposal would meet the aspirations of Y-generation students and those baby boomers who find themselves retired and/or with grown-up children.
"CQUniversity could distinguish itself further from other education providers in Australia and be the first to offer this opportunity to students.
"In the wider context, CQUniversity would be taking the opportunity to contribute significantly to global educational development and educational internationalism."
Although initially the proposal is for an individual course that could be integrated into most degree programs, long-term plans include the expansion into the Diploma of International Studies (Specialisation) and Masters of International Studies (Specialisation) programs.
Drs McDougall and Heath are available to discuss the proposal with interested staff and students prior to the survey by emailing them on r.mcdougall@cqu.edu.au and b.heath@cqu.edu.au .