About 25 Central Queensland high school students were given their first taste of university life during CQU Connections Uni Experience from Monday June 26 to Friday June 30.

Rockhampton students were joined by students from as far afield as Blackall, Clermont, Mackay, Bundaberg, Rosedale, Yeppoon and Monto for the week-long program designed to encourage students from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds to include university study as a viable option in their future.

“It’s about demystifying university for students who might not normally consider a university education in their life plan,” CQU Connections coordinator Olive Mallory said.

The year 11 and 12 students selected for the program discovered university programs and career options, while meeting staff and students from CQU's Rockhampton campus.

The annual event enabled students to immerse themselves in university life by staying at CQU’s residential college, Capricornia College.

Students participated in activities aimed at giving them an understanding about study and careers in such areas as nursing, engineering, psychology, journalism, teaching, human movement science and multimedia. They also toured the gym and sports facilities, visited the library, toured the aquatic science facilities, took part in an aerobics session, toured the campus and undertook career testing.

Ms Mallory said Uni Experience was one of CQU Connections’ programs to raise awareness of tertiary education opportunities, with many past participants going on to study at CQU.

Since 1996, 308 students have attended the Uni Experience program at CQU. About a third of these students have continued their studies at CQU; some have gone on to other universities; and others have taken a year off before continuing their education.

“We find students introduced to university this way are better able to make the adjustment and transition to university life. They have a more realistic expectation of university study and are less likely to drop out of study".

Ms Mallory said living on campus, meeting other students and experiencing university life made the transition from high school to tertiary study appear more “doable”, especially for rural students who had to leave home to attend university.

Photos: Experiencing university life is much better than reading about it.