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14 December 2021

NCSEHE launches Regional University Centres Network website

A new website launched today, produced by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE), provides a central point of information about Regional University Centres (RUCs) and unites RUCs Australia-wide.

Featuring targeted resources, news and events related to regional tertiary education, the website has been developed in consultation with the RUC Network Advisory Committee and funded by the Australian Government Department of Education.

RUCs are campus-like spaces located in towns across Australia which enable students in rural, regional and remote (RRR) Australia to access, participate and succeed in tertiary education without having to leave their communities. There are currently 26 RUCs across Australia and the new RUC Network website connects these diverse Centres and celebrates their collective work.

“This website is important in bringing awareness to the work of RUCs as well as drawing together the widely dispersed RUC staff and providing them with a website that can support their needs for information, professional development opportunities and networking,” RUC Network Project Manager Dr Olivia Groves said.

In addition to a public-facing website, the RUC Members’ Portal provides opportunities for RUC staff to communicate (via a discussion forum) and access research, guides, templates and professional learning videos designed especially for them. Ultimately, the aim is to foster a community of practice for RUC staff across Australia.

Chair of the RUC Network Advisory Committee, and Director of Geraldton Universities Centre, Natalie Nelmes said it was important for RUCs to have access to resources to help them develop the best support services they can for local students.

“RUCs deliver outstanding outcomes for their communities through their support for local tertiary students.”

“Many Centres are in the early stages of their development, so this website will allow for peer-to-peer learning and easy access to relevant and best practice resources to facilitate their successful growth.”

With RUCs across the country, including Arnhem Land (NT), Pilbara (WA), Zeehan (Tas) and Goondiwindi (Qld), each RUC is unique and reflective of the place and community it serves.

The RUC Network website reflects the diversity of regional Australian landscapes, people, and RUCs through a considered colour palette, image selection, content and branding, NCSEHE Director Professor Sarah O’Shea said.

“This site and its contents were forged in collaboration including NCSEHE content developers, researchers and designers working in partnership with RUC Directors and staff.”

The establishment of the RUC Network and website are the first of many exciting supports for Australia’s RUCs to come in the next few years.

Reproduced from the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE). View original article

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