The University of Queensland has announced a range of academic programs to be offered at the University's Ipswich campus for the first student intake from February, 1999.
They are bachelor degrees in electronic commerce, business (communication), business (travel and tourism management), business (leisure management), information environments, social sciences, contemporary studies and the graduate bachelor of education (one year intensive).
The University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Trevor Grigg said most of the courses were new and highly innovative and would not be available elsewhere.
'People attending the Ipswich campus will have access to cutting-edge technology and teaching,' he said.
Professor Grigg said building work would commence in late November following the release of the northern area of the Challinor Centre site to the University by the Department of Families, Youth and Community Care.
Professor Grigg, who is chair of the Ipswich campus planning group, said a campus manager would be appointed during 1998 to assist in overseeing the establishment of the new campus.
Recruitment of key academic staff to faculties will commence later this year and early next year to develop the content and courseware for new subjects, and to convert subjects to flexible delivery from existing courses.
The University is planning for an initial intake of 580 students in 1999.
While details of the courses are still to be finalised, the broad content will be as follows:
- bachelor of electronic commerce: electronic commerce is the conduct of customer-to-organisation and organisation-to-organisation business transactions by information technologies, and in particular, data communication technologies. The new degree will be designed to fill a gap in the market. The three-year course will include seven new subjects being developed specifically for a major in electronic commerce.
- bachelor of business (communication): a three-year course concerned not only with the interaction between people, but also with the structure and operation of the organisation. In today's computer and electronically-oriented world, an ability to use and manage communication technology and software is essential.
- bachelor of contemporary studies: a three-year, 240 credit point course dealing with major issues of contemporary culture and society in an interdisciplinary way. The degree will be based on subjects offered only through Ipswich and structured around five focus areas: media, communication and change; language and culture; contemporary Australia and the world; ethics and future studies; and culture and nature.
- bachelor of business (travel management and tourism management): From 1999, students who commenced the first year of these courses at Bremer TAFE in 1998 will study the second year at the new Ipswich campus for the first time. This replaces the current arrangement whereby students completed the later years of the courses at Gatton College. The second year of the courses will be offered in 1999, and the new first-year intake from the year 2000.
- bachelor of business (leisure management): this is a new three-year course to be offered for the first time at Ipswich in 1999. It is designed to fit closely with the existing suite of degrees of tourism, travel and hospitality management, and has a strong business focus.
- bachelor of information environments: the focus of this new three-year course will be on design, engineering, deployment and evolution of the coming generation of 'virtual environments' within which organisations and individuals will increasingly work and play. The new program will produce highly skilled graduates who can design, build and evolve the virtual services and infrastructures required by organisations and communities in the 21st century. The course will combine subjects offered by the Schools of Information Technology and of Architecture and Planning.
- bachelor of social sciences: this degree provides a foundation for students interested in the study of society and preparing careers in the public and private sectors oriented towards community and international development, public and community health, communication, social environment, cultural management and policy formulation and implementation. Core subjects and two concentrations, applied communication and community development, will be offered at Ipswich in 1999.
- graduate bachelor of education: 50 postgraduate students will be enrolled in Ipswich in 1999. The Ipswich-based programs have been designed to work closely with Metropolitan West Region Education Queensland schools.
For further information, contact Professor Grigg, telephone 07 3365 7366.
