Port Augusta’s Uni Hub Spencer Gulf campus is on track to open in 2020 – with the launch of the project to be held at the Central Oval Community Sporting Complex on September 13, at 2pm.

The project will be officially launched by Member for Grey, the Hon Rowan Ramsey MP with the local community, including local industry and schools, invited to attend.

Uni Hub Spencer Gulf board chair Dr Jen Cleary said the launch was the next step in plans to open a Port Augusta Hub in 2020.

“The launch will provide the local community the chance to find out more about courses the Uni Hub Spencer Gulf will support and what it means for Port Augusta,” she said.

“We are a new model of tertiary education facilitation for the region. We are providing local people with a unique opportunity to study a range of mixed mode tertiary courses and other programs, via our university partners, without the need to leave the region.”

Dr Cleary said the Hub would provide students with the support, space and technology to study individually or in groups. Student’s studying with the hub’s university partners would also receive face-to-face mentoring and tutorials to assist them achieve their academic goals.

“Statistics demonstrate that face-to-face support and purpose-fit facilities increase completion rates of distance education by more than 80 per cent,” she said.

“Not only will the facility be available to Uni Hub Spencer Gulf students who are studying with our university partners or in our programs, but it will be available to anyone studying with any university.”

She said Uni Hub Spencer Gulf played a key role in growing and developing the pool of professionals from within the region to ensure a competitive, vibrant and selfrelevant economy and community.

“We received an overwhelming response from the Port Augusta community during our recent survey work with 190 responses from school students and a further 97 from industry representatives,” she said.

“This survey provided us with valuable data to help us plan for Port Augusta next year. By involving local industry and schools across the Port Augusta region we can ensure that the courses we offer assist in workforce development and address skill shortages in the region.

“Our goal is to grow our own solutions and increase our workforce capability in the region to attract industry. It’s about building a better future for the Spencer Gulf.”

Contact: Jen Cleary – Chair: 1800 549 779, Director – Moira Coffey: 0421 034 740 or email: admin@unihubsg.org