CQUniversity has plenty of programs leading to careers in rural and remote areas, including the flexibility of distance education and the benefits of integration with industry experience.

Some of the employers hiring local graduates and actively pursuing CQUniversity students include Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, Microsoft Australia. Rio Tinto, Xstrata, Stanwell, Ergon, QR (Queensland Rail), Queensland Magnesium, NRG Power and Bundaberg Sugar plus local schools, hospitals, councils, tourism operators and more.

The University has established links with Mining Education Australia (MEA), Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), Coalfields Engineering Skills Centre at Moranbah High School, the Mining Industry Skills Centre (MISC), Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd, Queensland Resources Council, Gladstone Pacific Nickel Ltd, Independent Australian Laboratories, Australia's International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM) and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).

A specific example of collaboration is CQUniversity's involvement with the Power Generation Skills Development Postgraduate Program, in conjunction with the State's 3 government-owned power generators - CS Energy, Stanwell Corporation and Tarong Energy.

The Power Generation Skills Development Programs tap into specialised skills of academic staff across 3 partner universities and industry experts to provide students with advanced and practical education.

The University also offers flexible opportunities for school leavers and also for people already in the workforce who wish to upgrade their skills and acquire university qualifications without having to give up their jobs.

The range of degrees supporting regional industry goes well beyond the obvious science and engineering required at the coal face to include vital support infrastructure, including environmental expertise, water resources, education, ICT, finance, health and social services. Programs related to farming and plant sciences are also a strong option for job growth in regional and remote areas.

In Gladstone and Mackay, CQUniversity is developing a 'staircase' of lifelong learning, establishing place-based education pathways to provide a seamless transition through the different education sectors. These pathways will provide a platform to develop solutions to support the local labour recruitment, development and retention strategies of business and industry in Central Queensland, benefitting all types of resource industries.

CQUniversity is ‘digging in' as a long-term supporter of the mining and resources industries.

A strong resources theme is developing across a range of regional campuses of the institution, which is a proud foundation partner of QREX (the Queensland Resources Expo held in Rockhampton).

Mackay's hosting and support for the Australian Simulation Research Office is one of the recent initiatives. The Office is the first of its kind both nationally and internationally and will revolutionise the industry by increasing simulation training standards and developing initiatives to assist in producing a skilled and safety conscious workforce.

There has also been a strong resources focus through development of CQUniversity's Knowledge Village Mackay, the community-focused site which will strategically co-locate vocational education providers, government and industry.

Gladstone Campus, which is forging a learning partnership with Rio Tinto, has joined Asset Management Council members and Gladstone industry representatives in a push to establish a CQ region chapter of the AMC. This Campus has also hosted community workshops to help people understand air quality monitoring.

More widely, University researchers have been helping to improve the quality of mine water, indicating best practice for electricity generation from coal seam methane, boosting the productivity of rail operations and leading constructive debate about the carbon challenge.

The University has an existing suite of associate degrees in mining (already popular with mining firms), an existing mining engineering partnership degree (with University of Queensland) and is developing relevant postgraduate programs and short courses.

CQUniversity has also been working with resources firms and peak bodies to develop scholarships and bursaries to attract and retain talented students.

Showing the breadth of interest, there are a number of research programs focused on improved consideration of social and economic restructuring in mine and regional planning.