Pierre is wedded to 'engagement strategy'
Published on 10 March, 2010
The term 'engagement' means different things to different people. For Pierre Viljoen, it's all about making sense of the complex web of interactions between universities and communities.
A few months into his new role as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community and Engagement), Dr Viljoen reflects on the task at hand.
"It's not a 100m race, we have to keep in mind it's a 10,000m race. However the first 100m does have an impact on how we will go in the rest of the race. It is now the time for us to lay down a robust planning framework that will guide us on our 10-year journey to become Australia's most engaged university", he said.
Dr Viljoen is starting his journey with the firm conviction that there has been plenty of worthwhile engagement happening in the past. So what's the issue?
"The issue is whether we understand the full extent of what our engagement activities involve at multiple levels in the University? Do we have well developed policy, strategies and leadership around our engagement activities? Do we have a common understanding of what 'engagement' is? Do we collectively benefit from our networks and relationships? Not at the level that is possible," he said.
"It is fundamental to have a senior appointment to lead the engagement strategy of the University as it clearly signals the University's intention to focus strategically on this important area. The appointment in itself is already a big step.
"The role is about internal and external engagement, it's about developing a strategy, taking stock of our current activities, rolling out new initiatives and above all inviting our staff on a journey where CQUniversity will ‘be what it wants to be', and that is, Australia's most engaged university."
Dr Viljoen said that by better understanding and managing our engagement activities, the University will be even better equipped to engage in successful collaborative relationships and productive partnerships, in the future.
On top of his status as the chief external affairs officer for CQUniversity, Pierre will continue as Head of Mackay Campus, meaning he will be getting a taste of 'hands-on' engagement as well as leading strategies to cultivate high-quality relationships. He will also have executive responsibility for the Office of Development and Graduate Relations.
It's not just a one-way street, with benefits for the University, because the role also aims for "productive" partnerships which will further the region's interests. Its objective is to foster a deep and pervasive culture of engagement "to support the University's mission to leverage its power of place and its goal of becoming Australia's most engaged University".
Dr Viljoen is aware that he will be focused on partnerships with important sectors such as 'business', 'industry' and 'government', to increase community capacity through education, research, consulting and community activities.
He has already shown a knack for these relationships in his previous role as Head of Gladstone Campus, where he drew on his experience within the higher education sector in South Africa, as well as his professional background in industrial psychology.
Dr Viljoen has a PhD in Industrial Psychology and as registered Industrial Psychologist has undertaken consultation work in the pharmaceutical, health, higher education, steel manufacturing, mining and gambling industries in South Africa. In Australia he is registered as a Psychologist with the Psychologists Board of Queensland and a member of the Australian Psychological Society.