Reps from coal, steel and gas industries get Uni overview
Published on 27 October, 2011
Senior representatives from the coal, steel and gas industries were among speakers for the recent Gladstone Engineering Alliance Golding Industry Conference, hosted by CQUniversity Gladstone.
Head of Campus Professor Chad Hewitt also gave an address at the 'industry showcase', promoting CQUniversity's capabilities in research and innovation and drawing on his role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).
"Increasingly, universities have broken the walls of the Ivory Tower and have engaged actively with external stakeholders, specifically in research and innovation and also in turn-key education and professional development solutions," Professor Hewitt said.
The senior academic explained why 'engagement' is so important to CQUniversity's specific mission and why the University has "a strong sense of responsibility to our geographically spread local communities, resulting in an obligation to teach and undertake applied research across a wide range of disciplines".
"We have a focus on applied and translational research in areas relevant to stakeholders, including government, industry, community organisations and NGOs," Professor Hewitt said.
"We are involved in collaborative partnerships to identify solutions, create innovation dividends, determine opportunities, and provide future watch functions."
The address profiled 'research flagships' in the areas of Engineering and Resource Industries, Environmental Management, Human and Social Science Research, and Education Research, as well as participation in Cooperative Research Centres and other collaborative consortia.
Professor Hewitt outlined the University's Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability as a 'federation' of existing research centres in engineering and environment, as well emerging areas such as the Power, Energy and Assets Centre and Business Research Group.
"We have research partnership solutions through multi-disciplinary teams, and there's opportunities for CQUniversity to broker relationships with other key partners," he said.
The senior academic said CQUniversity could help provide industry with 'optimal solutions' for upskilling of staff, professional development and vocational and higher education pathways. He also highlighted the educational opportunities for partners of new recruits coming into the region.