The governing Councils of QUT and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) have agreed to move towards a transfer of QUT’s Caboolture campus to USC from 1 January 2018.

QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake and USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill welcomed the planned transition.

Both universities are committed to the future of higher education in the Caboolture region, and are resolved to act in the best interests of students, staff and the community.

Professor Coaldrake said QUT had proudly nurtured university education in the area having invested in the campus over 15 years of stewardship.

“In that time, QUT has provided the local community with undergraduate courses in business, nursing, education and creative industries at our shared campus with TAFE Queensland,” Professor Coaldrake said.

“This change comes at a time when USC is expanding its presence in the region, and it is appropriate for QUT to transfer its Caboolture campus to USC to facilitate this consolidation.”

Professor Hill said USC would maintain and expand the impressive educational platform established by QUT at Caboolture.

“USC already has a close relationship with schools and the community in Caboolture, and we see the campus transfer as an opportunity to consolidate and increase this engagement,” Professor Hill said.

“We currently have 400 students enrolled from Caboolture and Morayfield, and a total of 1,400 students from across the Moreton Bay region.”

Professor Hill said the campus transfer would give USC a strong presence in the Moreton Bay region ahead of its planned opening of a full-service campus at Petrie in 2020.

Both universities will work in partnership regarding implications for QUT and USC staff and students.

QUT will follow through with its school outreach activities, under the Commonwealth HEPP Program which aims to ensure that people from low socio-economic backgrounds have the ability to study at university.

For more information visit Study at Caboolture.

— Terry Walsh