CQUniversity Executive Dean Professor Graham Pegg is fired up about expanding his faculty's range of sciences, engineering and health programs, particularly across a footprint including the Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay, Noosa and Rockhampton regions...

"The simple truth is that students who study in the regions are more likely to stay and become a professional resource for the regions," he said. "We need to educate and retain our talented locals to fill the workforce shortages we face."

Health programs are being expanded to enhance options for regional Queenslanders

Professor Pegg can only pause briefly to reflect on the massive strides taken this year, with the addition of medical imaging and sonography in Mackay, supported by millions of dollars for new laboratories, specialised equipment and student accommodation.

Mackay's profile is expected to grow even more in 2012, with firm strides being made towards a Chiropractic program, which would line up perfectly with the medical imaging discipline and a large cohort of Chiropractic professionals located in the Mackay region.

CQUniversity recently ushered in the new Exercise and Sports Science degree in Rockhampton, along with medical science programs including specialisations in pathology, clinical investigation and nutrition.

Plans are already underway for expansion in 2012 and beyond, with a multi-purpose Allied Health (public) clinic on the drawing board and programs being prepared in oral health, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and podiatry.

Students come to terms with the latest Medical Imaging equipment

Bundaberg and Noosa are also on the agenda for new health-related programs, with expansion of psychology and social work scheduled in those regions from next year.

All that's on top of CQUniversity's long-established reputation for nursing and midwifery programs available at a range of campuses.

Engineering has been a mainstay and Professor Pegg believes Gladstone's LNG industry will provide the momentum for new programs in maintenance management, reliability engineering and electronic instrumentation.

Meanwhile, Rockhampton's engineering facilities are undergoing a multi-million-dollar refurbishment.

"With our offers up around 15% this year, we're in a strong growth phase," Professor Pegg says.

"We're offering more summer term teaching to expand student options and we've providing pathways so all our students can aspire to join our flagship programs in sciences, engineering and health disciplines.

Students have been attracted by a greater range of health programs

"To reinforce the University's pledge to be a multi-city university, we have Deans and professors in all our regional campus locations.

"We've got a really can-do ambitious attitude, we're investing money, and we're focusing on the education and training needs of regional Queensland."

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman says the University is in an exciting phase of growth and renewal.

"The key to renewal at CQUniversity is engagement. We need to embed engagement in all that we do - including expansion into new discipline areas - to ensure CQUniversity fulfils its goal to be one of Australia's great universities."