Southern Cross University (Australia)
Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour. Southern Cross University welcomes students from more than 80 countries throughout the world and offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in an inspiring and supportive learning environment. The University has a strong student focus and takes pride in the quality of its lecturers, many of whom are recognised as leaders in their fields. Southern Cross University’s degrees are offered across a broad range of disciplines, and are designed in consultation with industry. Many involve work placements and internships and other forms of hands-on learning to produce work-ready graduates. Research is undertaken in areas that are regionally relevant and globally significant, in disciplines as diverse as geoscience, plant genetics, cetacean research, health and wellbeing and tourism.
A unique feature of Southern Cross University is SPaCE (Sustainability, Partnerships and Community Engagement), a hub for innovation and connection within SCU that seeks to go where no University has gone before! SPaCE focuses on SCU’s leadership in the sustainable development of the regions within the University’s footprint: Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers and the Tweed / Southern Gold Coast. This positions the University as a catalyst for regional sustainability and incorporates the need to model sustainable practices across all its activities. It also encompasses the critical role that regionally relevant education and research plays in generating high quality graduates and developing knowledge to meet the key challenges of our time. We work regionally with a national and global view. Within SPaCE, SCU offers Excellence in Community Engagement Awards which the recognize the value of collaboration between Professional and Academic members of staff to generate activity of relevance and significance for our communities. SCU has also developed a Community Engaged Learning Policy and offers a Graduate Certificate unit in “Community Engagement: Scholarship and Practice.” SCU shares Stories of Community Engagement.