CQUniversity Australia facts for kids
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Former names
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List
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| Motto |
Latin: Doctrina Perpetua
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Motto in English
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"Forever learning" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established |
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| Accreditation | TEQSA |
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Academic affiliations
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RUN |
| Budget | A$487.31 million (2023) |
| Chancellor | Graeme Innes |
| Vice-Chancellor | Nicholas Klomp |
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Academic staff
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c. 836 (FTE, 2023) |
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Administrative staff
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c. 970 (FTE, 2023) |
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Total staff
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c. 1,805 (FTE, 2023) |
| Students | 33,494 (2023) |
| Undergraduates | 13,058 (2023) |
| Postgraduates | 5,624 (2023) |
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Other students
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| Location | , , |
| Campus | Urban and regional with multiple sites |
| Colours | Green Dark Green White |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Birdy McBirdface |
| Website | cqu.edu.au |
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Central Queensland University (also known as CQUniversity) is a public university in central Queensland, Australia. It is special because it has campuses in every mainland state of Australia. The main campus is in Rockhampton, but there are also campuses in many other cities like Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The university started in 1967 as the Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia). It became a full university in 1992, first called the University of Central Queensland, and then changed its name to Central Queensland University in 1994.
Contents
History of CQUniversity
Early Ideas for a University in Queensland
Back in 1941, the government wanted to create university colleges outside of Brisbane. People in Rockhampton pushed for a university college in their area. They wanted more chances for technical education and fair opportunities, just like those in Brisbane.
Starting the University Development Association
In 1959, a group called the Central Queensland University Development Association (UDA) was formed. This group worked to get a university built in the region. In 1961, the government set aside land in Parkhurst, North Rockhampton, for a new education site.
In 1965, the government decided to create a new type of education place in Rockhampton. These new places were linked to the main Queensland Institute of Technology in Brisbane.
Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia)
The Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia) opened in February 1967. It started with 71 students. At first, classes were held in a college building that didn't have proper labs or a library.
By 1969, most students and staff moved to the new campus in Parkhurst. It was still a developing area, sometimes facing bush fires or heavy rain. The first students even slept on mattresses in the canteen while waiting for dorms to open!
Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education
In 1971, the institute became independent and changed its name to Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education (CIAE). It started to feel more like a traditional university.
The CIAE was the first college in Australia to offer a Bachelor of Science degree through distance learning in 1974. By 1985, distance education was a huge part of the university, with many students learning from afar. Between 1978 and 1989, the CIAE also opened smaller campuses in Gladstone, Mackay, Bundaberg, and Emerald.
Becoming a Full University
The Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education became the University College of Central Queensland in 1990. Then, in 1992, it gained full university status and was called the University of Central Queensland.
In 1994, the name Central Queensland University was chosen. In 2008, it was rebranded as CQUniversity Australia. In 2001, Professor Glenice Hancock became the first female Vice-Chancellor of the university.
Since 2009, CQUniversity has grown a lot. It added many new courses, especially in health fields like physiotherapy and speech pathology. It also offers courses in business, arts, education, engineering, and more.
In 2014, CQUniversity joined with CQ TAFE. This made it Queensland's first "dual sector" university. This means it offers both university degrees and vocational (TAFE) courses. Now, CQUniversity has over 300 courses, from short courses to PhDs.
CQUniversity is also known as a "Changemaker Campus" by Ashoka U. This means it focuses on social innovation and making a positive difference in the world.
Campuses and Buildings
CQUniversity has many campuses across Australia. Here are some of them:
- CQUniversity Adelaide
- CQUniversity Brisbane
- CQUniversity Bundaberg
- CQUniversity Cairns
- CQUniversity Emerald
- CQUniversity Gladstone
- CQUniversity Mackay, City
- CQUniversity Mackay, Ooralea
- CQUniversity Melbourne
- CQUniversity Rockhampton, City
- CQUniversity Rockhampton, North
- CQUniversity Sydney
- CQUniversity Townsville
The university also works with Regional University Centres. These centers help students who are studying online or from a distance.
Rockhampton Campuses
Rockhampton has two campuses: Rockhampton, City and Rockhampton, North. The City campus offers many study options, from certificates to university degrees. It has training restaurants, hair salons, and engineering workshops.
The Rockhampton North campus is the main headquarters. It has special facilities like an Engineering Precinct, a Health Clinic, and student housing. The Engineering Precinct has labs for different types of engineering studies. The Health Clinic is open to the public and helps students learn by working with health professionals.
Mackay Campuses
Mackay also has two campuses: Mackay, City and Mackay, Ooralea. The City campus is in the city center and offers both vocational and academic courses. It has computer labs, training restaurants, and a library.
The Mackay Ooralea campus is a bit outside the city. It has lecture halls, computer labs, nursing labs, and student accommodation. There is also a Trades Training Centre here. This center helps students learn skills for jobs like electrical work, plumbing, and automotive repair.
Bundaberg Campus
The Bundaberg campus is on a large site outside the city. It focuses on smaller class sizes and personalized learning. Facilities include a library, computer labs, and nursing clinical labs. The campus also has a special forensic crash lab for students studying accident forensics. Since 2013, students can also train to be commercial pilots here.
Gladstone Campuses
Gladstone has two campuses: Gladstone, City and Gladstone, Marina. The City campus offers training for the gas industry and business studies. It has an Engineering Technology Centre and computer labs.
The Gladstone Marina campus is home to the Environmental Science Centre and the Engineering Centre. Students here use lecture theaters, computer labs, and a library.
Emerald Campus
CQUniversity Emerald is located west of Rockhampton. It focuses on trade-based apprenticeships. It has workshops for training in different trades.
Brisbane Campus
CQUniversity Brisbane is in the middle of the city. It has many floors with lecture rooms, multimedia labs, a bookshop, and a library.
Sydney Campus
The Sydney campus opened in 1994. It is located on Kent Street and has the largest number of international students. It has lecture theaters, multimedia labs, a library, and a student lounge.
Melbourne Campus
CQUniversity Melbourne is another city campus. It has multimedia labs, a bookshop, a library, and a student lounge.
Adelaide Campus
CQUniversity Adelaide is in the south-west of the city. It is home to The Appleton Institute. This institute does research and teaching in areas like safety science, sleep, and human behavior.
Cairns Campus
The Cairns campus is in the city center. It supports many students studying on campus and online. It has nursing and engineering labs, creative arts studios, film studios, and computer labs. It also has research in areas like renewable energy and artificial intelligence.
Other Locations
CQUniversity also has smaller learning centers and sites in other towns like Townsville and Perth. The university has also worked with countries like Singapore and Dubai to offer education.
How CQUniversity is Run
University Council
CQUniversity is managed by the CQUniversity Council. This group includes the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, along with other representatives. The Vice-Chancellor is like the main leader of the university.
Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor
Professor Nick Klomp became the Vice-Chancellor and President of CQUniversity in 2019. He is the sixth person to hold this important role. Mr Graeme Innes AM is the Chancellor of CQUniversity.
Academic Structure
CQUniversity has six main schools, each led by a Dean. These schools are:
- School of Education and the Arts
- School of Business & Law
- School of Engineering & Technology
- School of Medical and Applied Sciences
- School of Human, Health and Social Sciences
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
What You Can Study
CQUniversity offers a wide range of programs. You can study things like:
- Apprenticeships and trades
- Business, accounting, and law
- Creative arts (like music and visual arts)
- Education and humanities
- Engineering
- Health sciences
- Information technology and digital media
- Psychology and social work
- Science and environment
- English language courses
University Achievements
Research and Discoveries
CQUniversity does a lot of important research. In 2012, its research rankings improved a lot. It was rated "well above world standard" in areas like applied mathematics, agriculture, and some health sciences. Nursing research was also rated at "world standard."
The university has many research centers and groups. These include centers for plant and water science, railway engineering, and mental health nursing.
Art Collection
The university started collecting art in the 1970s. It now has almost 600 artworks, including paintings, ceramics, and photographs. These artworks are displayed around the campuses.
Costs and Financial Help
For international students, tuition fees can vary depending on the program. Australian students might get a "Commonwealth Supported Place" (CSP). This means the government helps pay for part of their tuition. Students can also get government loans, like HECS-HELP, to help pay for their studies.
The university also offers many scholarships. These can be money grants or help with tuition fees.
University Rankings
CQUniversity is recognized in many university rankings.
- In the Australian Financial Review Best Universities Ranking 2024, it was ranked #22 among Australian universities.
- In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it was ranked #499 globally.
- In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, it was ranked in the #501–600 group globally.
Student Success
Surveys show that CQUniversity students are very successful.
- In 2023, employers were very happy with CQUniversity graduates, with an 86.4% satisfaction rate.
- In 2023, 86.2% of undergraduate students and 92.6% of postgraduate students found full-time jobs after graduating.
- Students also rated their overall education experience highly, with undergraduates at 79.9% and postgraduates at 80.2% in 2023.
Famous People from CQUniversity
Many notable people have studied at CQUniversity or its earlier forms. Some of them include:
- Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks
- Wayne Blair, an Indigenous Australian filmmaker
- Martin Bowles, former Secretary of the Department of Health
- Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou from the music group Busby Marou
- Craig Foster, former Socceroo Captain and human rights advocate
- Anna Meares, Olympic gold medal-winning track cyclist
- William McInnes, actor and author
- Paul Ettore Tabone, opera and musical theatre performer
- Craig Zonca, a radio presenter
- Yohani, a Sri Lankan singer
- Antor Banik, a footballer for Sydney FC
Images for kids
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Engineering building at the North Rockhampton campus
See also
- List of universities in Australia
- Education in Australia
