VC’S CORNER
Think nationally,
energise locally
Regional universities provide a boon
for the entire country by keeping the
areas they serve vital and skilled.
By Andrew Vann
campusreview.com.au
R
egional institutions such as Charles
Sturt University, have a unique
mission and approach to research,
recruitment and course development that
enable us to meet the needs of regional
communities and serve the national interest.
The recent report How Regional
Universities Drive Regional Innovation,
from the Federal Department of Industry,
Innovation and Science reveals just
how significant, and effective, regional
universities are for national innovation,
something we have long been aware of.
REGIONAL RESEARCH
There is sometimes a lazy assumption that
any important research and development
must be done in capital cities. I have been
fond of pointing out that history does
not back this up. Newton developed his
theories of gravity, optics and calculus
whilst seeking refuge from the plague in
his rural Lincolnshire home. The Wright
Brothers tested their powered aeroplane
in rural Ohio. And the modern computer
had its birthplace in Bletchley Park, well
away from the centre of London. So the
critical technologies of the 21st century are
underpinned by rural innovation.
At CSU, we are interested in how we can
help our local industries and communities
grow and prosper. As a regional university,
CSU has a key role in driving regional
innovation and creates industry impact. This
is the reason our communities wanted a full
university and they have as much right to
expect this as tho