CQUniversity has won a tender to supply a horticulture retailers course, to better align the interests of the horticultural industry with the retail sector.

The program will help Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL) achieve its aim of growing the industry through increased consumer demand and consumption of produce. It will meet current retail industry needs by improving the skill set and career pathways.

Led by Professor Kerry Walsh from Rockhampton Campus, a consortium of industry-recognised experts will deliver a pilot project intended to have self-sustaining benefits.

As a developing dual-sector institution with e-delivery technologies, the University is ideally placed to draw on its networks to the benefit of the project.

The tender was won by the University's Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS), with help from the Queensland Centre for Professional Development (QCPD).

Professor Walsh says "CQUniversity's strong distance education capacity and sound training support structures as well as its previous experience with the HAL project management system and extensive industry networks ensured our success with the tender".

"Another significant factor was CQUniversity's capacity to collaborate with a range of providers to supplement the range and depth of retailer training required".