The University of Newcastle will no longer offer new under-graduate enrolments at its Port Macquarie campus.
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The change, effectively immediately, will not impact on current nursing, midwifery and primary teaching students who will be able to complete their studies with the university.
Staff at the Port Macquarie campus will be advised of their future.
Nursing and teaching tertiary options will not be lost in the Hastings however, with Charles Sturt University set to pick up the course as a part of its Port Macquarie expansion, offering both courses to new students from 2020.
The changes, after a 16-year education presence in the Hastings, see a shift to postgraduate and research delivery at the campus. The establishment of a Charles Sturt University campus and UNSW medical school has reshaped the tertiary education landscape regionally.
"We're extremely proud of the contribution the University of Newcastle has made to the Port Macquarie-Hastings region since we opened our doors in 2003," said University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky.
"More than 700 students have graduated from our Port Macquarie campus and each day they're making a difference in their communities as nurses, primary teachers and midwives.
"The local higher education landscape has now changed, with Charles Sturt University developing its local campus and UNSW introducing its medical degree at the shared health research and education campus.
"The long term interests of the community and students who want to study locally is now being met in a variety of ways through collaboration and multiple providers."
The local higher education landscape has now changed, with Charles Sturt University developing its local campus and UNSW introducing its medical degree at the shared health research and education campus.
- Prof Zelinsky
The University of Newcastle offers nursing, midwifery and primary teaching courses at its Port Macquarie campus and has 291 current enrolments.
The University will support all of its currently enrolled students in their local studies, continuing to teach and support the existing full-time students through to graduation.
The majority of current students will complete their studies by 2022. The University will work closely with part-time students to identify and plan individual pathways and options for completion of their degrees.
The Vice-Chancellor and Faculty heads met on June 20 with staff who work at the campus to discuss the new approach and what it will mean for them individually.
The University will now focus its future efforts on postgraduate programs and research opportunities, working collaboratively with Charles Sturt University, the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and the Mid North Coast Local Health District, and other local stakeholders.
"We know that despite the local degree offerings, a large number of young people from Port Macquarie choose to move to Newcastle and to the Central Coast to study with our institution and we know that will also continue," Prof Zelinsky said.
While this decision represents a change of focus, the University of Newcastle will remain a key higher education presence in Port Macquarie and the Mid-North Coast region.
The University of Newcastle has had a long-term relationship with the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD), and the Port Macquarie Base Hospital in particular.
The UON Department of Rural Health (UONDRH) will continue to support final-year allied health students on clinical placements at the Base Hospital, contributing to development of the regional health workforce and health services available to the local community.
Through its position as one of Australia's leading universities in health and medical research, the University of Newcastle will remain a key partner with the MNCLHD and Port Macquarie Base Hospital, working to advance and grow the region's health and medical research capacity and expertise, to deliver enhanced health outcomes informed by evidence and research.
Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie to offer nursing and teaching from 2020
Charles Sturt University Professor John Germov, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) acknowledged the University of Newcastle for their work in helping to establish higher education in Port Macquarie.
"Charles Sturt looks forward to working with them in the future as a key stakeholder in the region, especially through research collaboration," Prof Germov said.
CSU has recently expanded course offerings in Port Macquarie and will launch the nursing course from February 2020. The university will also continue to offer the Bachelor of Education (K-12) and Bachelor of Education Studies from the Port Macquarie campus.
"We will be working closely with the University of Newcastle to support students, particularly those studying part-time, who may be interested in transitioning to Charles Sturt University," Prof Germov said.
The CSU Port Macquarie campus is undergoing a $46 million expansion, including a $15 million contribution from the state government, with Stage 2 well underway.
The campus expansion will offer additional exceptional teaching and learning centres with students able to access world class education and facilities without needing to move out of the region.
