A fast-tracked three-year degree option has proved popular for 36 of the 50 students who were pioneers in the Bachelor of Learning Management program at Central Queensland University's Noosa Hub at Pomona.

This week (November 6), the first 36 students celebrated completion of their studies, thanks to an innovative three-term option.

Three students have already been offered jobs. The hub expects all students to have taken up job offers by January next year.

The Executive Director of Schools in the Nambour District, Mr Robin McAlpine, praised the success of this innovative program.

"For the first time, young people can study to become teachers right here on the Sunshine Coast", he said.

"The Bachelor of Learning Management has proven successful in equipping teachers with the necessary skills to respond to the challenges of the 21st century." The program is delivered in partnership with Education Queensland and Central Queensland University and, in an innovative departure from previous programs, is delivered from an Education Department School at Cooroora Secondary College in Pomona. The degree is a four-year program that can be completed in three years. Students explore the underpinning knowledge around being a manager of learning by attending lectures, workshops and tutorials at the school-based campus, however, much of the learning actually happens in local schools that the students attend from the first week of their course.

Deputy Principal at Talara Primary College, Jenelle Lewis believes the BLM is the highest quality program available for students aspiring to be future knowledge workers in Queensland.

This course has been found to be effective in graduating learning managers who are ready for the workforce.

Mrs Lewis attributes the program's success to the teaching schools program combined with a quality base of knowledge and pedagogy.

"This allows the committed learner to develop and reach an unbelievably high degree of skill and proficiency", Mrs Lewis said.

Learning Manager and Deputy Principal from Tewantin State School, Trish Gray, commented on the experience of having final year students this year.

"This year's graduating cohort have required me to re-evaluate what I believe a beginning teacher can do", Mrs Gray said. Jacqui Pool, a BLM graduate in Early Childhood believes the success of the program lies in the up-to-date nature of the course content and exposure to recent syllabus and teaching and learning initiatives, but the close liaison with practitioners in the workplace was also highly valued.

“We learned from practising classroom teachers, many of whom are leaders in their field and really understand the needs of today's learners”, Ms Pool said. Enrolments in the course are growing each year and there are an expected 100 students will be accepted in first year 2004.

Students in the course travel from as far south as Brisbane and from Gympie in the north.

Teaching school coordinator Paul O’Neill says that students are placed in schools close to their home address, but will experience three different schools during the program. CQU Noosa coordinator David Lynch said the day of celebration marked the first milestone in CQU's success on the Sunshine Coast and a turning point for the education profession generally. ENDS For details call: David Lynch (07) 5485-2986