CQU Mackay this week hosted five Korean students and their teacher on a tour of the campus.

The five students, who range in age from 13 to 17, have spent the past two weeks in Mackay with their host schools Whitsunday Anglican School and Mackay Christian College.

They visited the campus earlier this week to see the facilities available should they choose to study here in the future.

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music student Scott Kim from Korea was keen to accompany his fellow Koreans on their tour of the campus, making sure they understood what was going on. Scott was very eager to speak in his native language as he has found very few Koreans in Mackay.

"It was great to meet the students and hear my native language again,” said Scott.

"I wanted to invite them back to my house for lunch but they didn’t have time in their schedule.".

Mr Mike Partridge of Whitsunday Anglican School and Ms Dianne Lindores from Mackay Christian College accompanied the students on their tour. Their teacher Ms Jung-Sun Park translated into Korean.

"The students have a basic understanding of English, but will hopefully return to Korea with a renewed interest.".

Central Queensland University has recently received a 5-star rating for cultural diversity in the 2006 Good Universities Guide. The Guide says CQU is an “exceptionally diverse, not to mention vast institution” which is “less complacent, more energetic, more flexible and more welcoming than many.".

CQU Mackay currently has 11 international students studying on campus from countries including Korea, Tonga, South Africa, America, England and the Philippines.

Photo: (from left) CQCM student Jung (Scott) Kim from Korea accompanied his fellow Koreans on a tour of CQU Mackay this week, along with their teacher Ms Jung-Sun Park (right).