Tamworth university need to stop skills leakage: Jye Segboer

While a Tamworth university has been talked about countless times over the past few decades, the latest push has capture the attention and support of the business community.

Tamworth Business Chamber president Jye Segboer said maintaining the region’s young professionals was key to the city’s future development.

“Research shows that if they go to a university near home, they’re more likely to stay home and get embedded in the community, and build those bonds and ties as they get older,” he said.

“A university would certainly stop that leakage of young people leaving the region for education, which is what is currently happening.”

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Mr Segboer said the families of university lecturers would add to stemming the skill shortage.

“Quite often the spouses are highly skilled in a particular area as well,” he said.

The University of New England (UNE) has lodged a funding application with the NSW government for a multi-million 500-person campus in the city’s CBD, which includes plans for on-campus accommodation for around 100 people.

​UNE has already started planning and designing courses, which include agriculture, nursing, education, law and business.​

Mr Segboer said the business community was right behind the push.

“I’ve had business people ring up and saying ‘what can we do? Can we throw some money behind making this happen?’,” he said.

“I certainly believe we are in a lot stronger position, and with much more motivation, then we’ve had in previous years.

“There are some big operators out there who are pushing from every angle they can to make it happen.”

A community meeting has been scheduled to discuss UNE’s proposal on February 13, at West Leagues Club, at 6pm.

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