Page 11 - PR Mag May19

Virtual

Tour of New

Moreton Bay

Campus

As USC’s new campus takes shape at

Moreton Bay, Year 12 high school students
in the region are taking virtual tours of the
space using mobile phones and headsets.

University of the Sunshine Coast spokesperson Courtney Geritz
said virtual technology was allowing students to get a feel for
the facilities before the campus’s foundation building opens in
early 2020.
“This technology is allowing students to take a virtual walk
through what the finished campus is going to look like,” she said.
“There’s enormous anticipation for the new full-service campus
to open next year and Year 12 students have been inspired and
impressed to hear what they will be able to do there.”
The campus is under construction at The Mill at Moreton Bay,
where a 16,000-square metre Stage One foundation facility is set
to feature a 400-seat lecture theatre, $10 million worth of state-
of-the-art technology including simulation facilities, engineering
facilities and a makerspace.
From next year, USC’s Moreton Bay campus will offer more
than 40 undergraduate degree programs including business,
education, computer science and mechatronics. An additional
16 programs are likely to be introduced in 2021 and 2022.
USC student Blake Cochrane, who grew up in Redcliffe, said
the new campus would help locals study without the stress of
moving out of home.
“To have a university on your doorstep and only a short distance
from home would make life that much easier until you felt
comfortable to move out of home,” he said.
Around 90 percent of students currently living in Moreton Bay
commute on average three hours per day to attend university
outside the region, with around two-thirds travelling to
Brisbane’s central business district.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the University had
ambitious plans to help the region connect, expand and improve
educational opportunities.
“With a full-scale USC campus at its core, this new destination
will offer world-class study opportunities for residents in the
region,” Professor Hill said.
“By 2030, we anticipate it will cater for 10,000 new students.”
USC Moreton Bay will be located on the former Petrie Paper
Mill site, currently being redeveloped by Moreton Bay Regional
Council.
Images supplied by Hassell June 2018

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