University of the Sunshine Coast

Infobox University
name = University of the Sunshine Coast


image_size = 166px
tagline = "Your Uni, Your life"
established = 1994
type = Public
chancellor = John Dobson OAM
vice_chancellor = Professor Paul Thomas AM
city = Sunshine Coast
state = Queensland
country = Australia
students = 5,833 (includes undergraduates and postgraduates, as at Semester 1 2008)
faculty = 468 (excluding casual staff, as at March 2008)
campus = Urban
website = http://www.usc.edu.au/

The University of the Sunshine Coast, is a public university based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

History

The first discussions of a University for the Sunshine Coast region began in 1973. But it was not until 1989 that the Commonwealth government had approved the establishment of the University. On July 1, 1994 the Queensland Parliament passed the "Sunshine Coast University College Act 1994". [ [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AbouttheUniversity/History/Establishment.htm Establishment of the University of the Sunshine Coast] ] [ [http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/ACTS/1994/94AC016.pdf www.legislation.qld.gov.au (PDF)] ]

The University was established in 1994 and first opened in 1996, as the "Sunshine Coast University College". The University changed to its current name of the "University of the Sunshine Coast" in 1999. It was created by the Australian government to serve the growing population of the Sunshine Coast region, north of Brisbane, in Queensland.

Rankings

USC has received five star rankings in the 2009 Good Universities Guide [ [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/MediaPublications/News/MoreNews/FiveStar.htm USC is a five-star performer - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia ] ] for teaching quality, staff qualifications, electronic support and graduate satisfaction. Four stars were awarded for academic services. The Good Universities Guide results are released each year in August.

In 2007, the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) audited USC as part of their assessment of all Australian universities. AUQA is a national agency that operates independently of governments and the higher education sector. The report commended USC for “its significant achievements since inception” and awarded USC commendations for [http://www.auqa.edu.au/qualityaudit/reports/auditreport_usc_2007.doc] :
*quality learning and teaching
*Headstart Program
*GO Program
*student support services
*work integrated learning
*degree approval process

According to the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training, USC has the highest proportion of academic staff with Doctoral or Masters qualifications of any university in Queensland - and the fifth highest in Australia [Department of Education, Science and Training Staff 2006: Selected Higher Education Statistics, 2006] .

Graduates have consistently given USC top marks for educational experience, with a 92 percent satisfaction rating in the 2007 Course Experience Questionnaire [2007 Course Experience Questionnaire, conducted by Graduate Careers Australia - Overall Satisfaction Index, broad agreement] .

The University’s GO (Global Opportunities) Program received an award from the Queensland Government at the Celebrating International Education and Training Industry Showcase in August 2007 [ [http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/Key_activities_information_and_services/International_students/Industry_update/Showcase/2007_Industry_Showcase/ Department of the Premier and Cabinet - 2007 Industry Showcase ] ] for promoting internationalisation.

Campus and locations

The University of the Sunshine Coast campus is located at Sippy Downs in Queensland, Australia. USC also has teaching facilities in Noosa, and operates an education and research facility at Dilli Village on Fraser Island.

Faculties

The University of the Sunshine Coast has three faculties:

* [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AcademicFaculties/ArtsSocialSciences/ Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences]
* [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AcademicFaculties/Business/ Faculty of Business]
* [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AcademicFaculties/Science/ Faculty of Science, Health and Education]

Undergraduate and postgraduate (coursework and higher degree by research) programs are offered in each faculty. There are also dual degree programs offered in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE.

The University is listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. USC's CRICOS provider number is 01595D.

Research

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s research focus is on regional engagement and sustainability issues. The University has a number of research centres and research groups.

The [http://www.usc.edu.au/Research/Centres/CHASE/ Centre for Healthy Activities, Sport and Exercise] has research areas including:
*sports performance
*healthy activities in the community

The [http://www.usc.edu.au/Research/Centres/NSPAC/ National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre] conducts research on productive ageing in the context of:
*work
*recreation
*education
*community service
*personal quests

The [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AcademicFaculties/Science/Research/GeneCology/ GeneCology Research Group] researches:
*sustainable production systems in aquaculture, forestry and horticulture
*reproductive biology and physiology of plants and animals
*conservation management, species and ecosystem recovery and restoration
*management of native species in altered environments

The [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AcademicFaculties/Science/Research/RegionalSustainability/ Regional Sustainability Research Group] undertakes research on:
*coastal management
*climate change
*water management
*natural and cultural heritage
*innovation
*adaptive growth
*community wellbeing

The [http://research.usc.edu.au/vital/access/manager/ Coast Research Database] provides open access to the University of the Sunshine Coast's research output. The purpose of the database is to make the research output of the University accessible to local, national and international communities.

Student accommodation

Three student accommodation complexes are located next to the campus in Chancellor Park:
*Varsity Apartments
*UniCentral
*The Village

These complexes are privately-owned and operated. All are within walking distance of the campus, linked by pedestrian pathways. A public transport greenlink (for buses, cyclists and pedestrians) will connect the campus with the accommodation precinct by the end of 2008.

Each accommodation complex has apartments that come furnished and have Internet access. The general layout in an apartment is a shared kitchen and living room, with four single bedrooms. Each bedroom has a private bathroom and toilet. The complexes are gated and have BBQs, pools and outdoor sports courts (such as tennis and volleyball).

The University also keeps an off-campus accommodation register for students and staff looking for accommodation in the local area. Most of the listings are for share accommodation.

See also

* [http://www.usc.edu.au/Students/International/Services/Accommodation/ Student accommodation at the University of the Sunshine Coast]
* [http://www.usc.edu.au/Students/Future/StudentSupport/AccommodationRegister/AccommodationRegister.htm Student accommodation register at Student Services]

References

External links

* [http://www.usc.edu.au/ University of the Sunshine Coast]
* [http://www.varsityapartments.com.au/ Student accommodation - Varsity Apartments]
* [http://www.unicentralaccommodation.com.au/ Student accommodation - Unicentral]
* [http://www.thevillage.net.au/ Student accommodation - The Village]
* [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/MediaPublications/News/News.htm USC News]
* [http://www.usc.edu.au/University/MediaPublications/Events/ USC Events]
* [http://www.uscstudentguild.com.au/ USC Student Guild]
* [http://www.usc.edu.au/Community/AlumniFriends/Alumni/ USC Alumni Information]
* [http://www.tourismsunshinecoast.com.au/ Sunshine Coast tourist information]
* [http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/ Universities Australia]