Bulletin

Issue: October 2004

News

Round Table looks at regional universities

La Trobe University - with the largest number of regional university campuses in Victoria - recently hosted the Victorian Regional Engagement Forum of the national Business/Higher Education Round Table.

Director of Business Development at La Trobe, Bendigo, Mr David Ensor, said more than 160 people attended the forum, opened by State Treasurer and Minister for Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby.

The forum was addressed by business, education and community leaders including State Education Minister and local MHR, Ms Jacinta Allan. It recognised the pivotal role played by higher education, industry, and business in regional development and in retaining young people in regional areas.

Mr Ensor said La Trobe had invested a great deal in regional community development programs and was pleased to be chosen to host the forum.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne, one of the keynote speakers, said that a regional university, even if it was new and small, should not differ in any essential way from the 'Idea of a University' generally.

'It should exhibit the same core attributes that define any university, whilst of course maintaining additional features appropriate to its location and social setting. The recent move to essentially public universities with broad and relatively transparent criteria for admission with a strong suite of vocational programs - and very recently in Australia the experiment of taking higher education to regional centres rather than bringing regional students to the metropolis - can all be encompassed within such a broad vision,' he said.

'Universities need to argue persuasively for a blend of the traditional and the utilitarian on the grounds that society needs intellectuals and intelligent citizens as well as experts in specific fields; and universities should enrich society as a whole, not just the work-related aspects.

'At La Trobe University we are seeking to pursue this blend and it is a defining feature of the University. The community has a right to expect the University to respect and promote local aspirations,' Professor Osborne concluded.

'By the same token, the community should recognise that a university has, and needs to retain, certain attributes in terms of the pursuit of learning if it is to deserve and keep the title of university.'

Other key speakers included Professor Ashley Goldsworthy, Executive Director, Business Higher Education Round Table; Mr Derek de Vrieze, Chair Central Victorian Business Network; and Ms Kathy Byrne, Chief Executive Bendigo Health Care Group. La Trobe speakers included Professor Peter Sullivan, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of La Trobe, Bendigo; Professor Ruth Endacott, Head of Nursing at La Trobe, Bendigo; and Mr Ensor.

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