CQU (including tomorrow’s 1st round offers) will have made approximately 2500 offers for term 1 2007. Applicants can log onto QTAC tomorrow to find out if they’ve been made an offer. And successful applicants will receive info from CQU in the mail early next week.

Applications to universities in Queensland and WA, where there are resource booms, appear to be down somewhat... Demand at CQU, though, is about the same as it was last year. Across Australia it appears that demand is up a bit.

What we are finding here in Central Queensland is that demand for programs available by distance education is up significantly... up 27% over the same period last year. That’s a positive trend over the last five years – we’ve witnessed 40% growth since 2002 for external programs. And that’s especially true for study areas such as Engineering, Health, the Sciences, and Business.

Human Movement Science here in Rockhampton is up 75% over last year Building Design up 68% Construction management up 43% And we’re offering Nursing by Distance Education for the first time -- and response to that has been very strong.

So why are they choosing Distance Education? They can study while they work, they can pace themselves better, study part-time if they want and skill or upskill themselves for new jobs.

There are literally 101 reasons to study by distance education. CQU offers 101 programs from The Bachelor of Property to graduate programs in Psychology and Environmental Management, all by distance and all in study areas.

Did you know that over 90% of our graduates are placed in full-time jobs within a few months of graduating --- the national average is about 82%. And, overall, they’re earning more money than the national average.

The 2007 Good Universities Guide reports, for example, that the national employment average for recent graduates in Education & Training is 80% -- CQU’s is 93%. In Engineering & Technology the national average is 86%, our is 100%. We’re also making about 100 more spaces for people who want to come to uni, but who may not have the qualifications to do so. CQU offers three major preparatory programs (such as STEPS, WIST and TEP) which are designed for people who are thinking about changing their lives. Often we find that people don’t have self-confidence, or for some reason or another something’s holding them back. These programs change that. You can finish one in as little as 12 weeks and be qualified to attend CQU or virtually any uni. They’re free. They’re available on campus and they’re available by Distance Education. Over 10 000 people have participated in these programs since 1986 – and so many of them talk about the amazing life-changing effect it had on them. We’ve had grocery-store clerks become doctors and tradesmen become researchers.

People still interested in any CQU program can call us and apply. 1300 360 444. Or go to www.cqu.edu.au where they can find out more by clicking on “A Better Future is Closer than You Think.” It’s also time for school leavers especially to lodge their Change of Preference – and we’re finding that school leavers are turning to CQU because they can earn while they learn at CQU, with our various Integrated Workplace Learning Schemes. That’s where they can get real experience, paid or unpaid, in the work environment. They’re more likely to get a full-time job than the Australian average. Plus, CQU campuses are small and CQU teaching staff support them every step of the way. And there’s a great social life, too. There’s another offer round on February 1st, so applications need to be lodged now. 1st Term starts in March, so there’s still time to make good on your New Year’s resolution to make a better future for yourself. END