Bradley Beare, from Tannum Sands State High School, gets some advice from Australian Technical College - Gladstone Region business trainer and course developer Carmen Barton while studying for his Certificate II in Business at CQU Gladstone's Cyril Golding Library. A partnership agreement between Central Queensland University, the Australian Technical College and Central Queensland Insitute of TAFE in Gladstone has paved the way for a group of young apprentices to study a business course in the Cyril Golding Library at CQU Gladstone.

The Australian School-based Apprentices are enrolled with the Australian Technical College - Gladstone Region, which is delivering a Certificate II in Business and Information Technology at CQU's state-of-the-art computer lab within the library.

CQU Gladstone Head of Campus, Pierre Viljoen said CQU saw the partnership as being beneficial to all stakeholders, including the community.

"These facilities belong as much to the community as CQU and this agreement opens opportunities for students to see what we have to offer as well. It gives them the chance to look at their options beyond their trade too,'' he said.

"I think this opens opportunities for the future for secondary students. It gives them an insight into further studies after completing their trade."

Australian Technical College - Gladstone Region Chief Executive Officer David Gilmour said the arrangement could not have gone ahead without the support of Central Queensland Institute of TAFE Gladstone campus as well.

"We are operating the course under an auspice arrangement with the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE. This is particularly important in moderating and validating student achievement and providing the certification for nationally recognised courses," Mr Gilmour said.

"We believe our model breaks new ground and leads the way for other educational settings to work together to promote better educational outcomes for all concerned."