Industries are engaging CQUni to also train and develop their staff, writes Mike Donahue.

CQUniversity does more than teach undergraduates and conduct research for local organisations; it is becoming a key player in the training and professional development of the 500,000 strong labour force in Central and North Queensland, delivering a range of short courses and technical training sessions to people in major industry and service sectors through its emerging Queensland Centre of Professional Development (QCPD).

Representatives from Komatsu, Toyota and the Gladstone Ports Corporation will be on hand to talk about hybrid powered heavy machinery and its use in Central Queensland at a Symposium at CQUniversity's Queensland Centre for Professional Development at CQUniversity Gladstone (25 February) and CQUniversity Mackay (4 March)."One engine of our Learning & Teaching at CQUniversity is our traditional model of education and research. The other is a new, highly flexible and charged-up to service - the QCPD - which will respond to the region's emerging and long-term skills need," says CQUniversity Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Chad Hewitt.

"Using  both ‘engines' - or learning models - CQUniversity is engaging with industries and businesses operating in Central Queensland which are screaming out for immediate help with skills development - it's just what a modern, engaged university should be doing," explains colleague Dr Pierre Viljoen, Pro Vice Chancellor (Community & Engagement).

To that end CQUniversity and Engineering Education Australia, the education arm of Engineers Australia, recently signed an agreement to have their short courses delivered in collaboration with QCPD.

Operating from CQUniversity Gladstone and CQUniversity Mackay, QCPD advances the sustainable business and economic development of local communities across the state by servicing the industries that operate here and specialising in the career development of people who are especially active in the natural resources, processing, manufacturing, construction and power industries and agriculture.

CQUniversity, over time, has become a primary resource to primary industries-what CQUniversity Vice Chancellor Professor Scot Bowman calls a special privilege.

"We're engaged in their business. We intimately know the environment in which they work and are providing global and local organisations with reliable information and independent analysis. Because we're here on the ground in places like Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg and can have trainers located in areas such as the Surat and Bowen Basins, we're able to work in tandem with organisations, even on their own sites, to help them to achieve their skills development and training goals and objectives," explains Professor Bowman.

Many of QCPD's courses have been designed for people with engineering and technical backgrounds and related management positions. New short courses can be designed and built, for example, around specific topics such as Earthworks, Acid Sulphate Soils, Geo-technology, Piping System Design, Engineer Career Development, Writing Winning Technical Documents and Project Earned Value Management.

The QCPD can also create custom training and development products and services for other local employing industries (such as Education, Government Administration and Hospitals/Healthcare) and other organisations.

"The thing about QCPD is that we don't grab a training module off the shelf and hand it to someone. We work with companies, government and industry representatives to custom build courses, design field assignments, and prepare and deliver on-the-job development programs that are first-rate and innovative," says Professor Hewitt.

"It's CQUniversity's active, meaningful engagement with local business and industries that directly benefits Central Queensland communities," concluded Vice Chancellor Bowman.