THE University of New England has strengthened its commitment to its Tamworth students with the unveiling of its refurbished and technologically-enhanced study centre in Fitzroy St.
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Member for New England Barnaby Joyce and UNE chancellor James Harris officially opened the revamped Tamworth Regional Study Centre yesterday, part of a $46 million project delivering improved teaching facilities, greater collaboration between UNE’s teaching and research sectors and elevating its reputation as a tertiary leader in agricultural study and research.
At the heart of the project is a new three-storey Agricultural Education Building at the Armidale campus that includes specialised teaching laboratories, a large lecture theatre, tutorial rooms, workrooms, a multi-discipline zoology teaching museum and a learning resource centre.
A total of $2.5 million from the $46 million budget has been spent on the upgrade of the Tamworth centre, providing improved study and exam facilities for students and IT upgrades that will allow them access to lectures occurring in Armidale, direct peer-to-peer interaction between students and lecturers and face-to-face tutoring.
Vice-chancellor Professor Annabelle Duncan said it was all part of UNE’s ongoing commitment to both its online student population – which now makes up three-quarters of UNE’s total student population – and to its student centres across the region, including Tamworth.
Tamworth Regional Council is contributing several million dollars in in-kind contributions over the next six years, mayor Col Murray saying it was “a great day for higher education in the city”.
“It’s an absolutely concrete statement by UNE about its commitment to the city ... and we’ll work with our communities to ensure its success and promote the genuine opportunities that are now available.”
Professor Duncan said while she couldn’t say categorically the $46 million investment made the university the top provider of agricultural studies in the country, it did make it one of the leaders.
“It means we are at the cutting edge of what’s available in terms of agriculture and environmental education,” she said.
The Tamworth study centre is not only for the use of UNE students either, with hopes TAFE students, and even local schools, could utilise the new technology.
