Country Universities Centre Far West (CUC) held their graduation ceremony last Saturday at Broken Hill Golf Club, recognising more than a dozen CUC students who graduated from their relevant courses in 2023.
The graduates were joined by family and friends.
The CUC provides tertiary students with the opportunity to study locally, by supplying the space and resources necessary to ensure students can complete their assessments and study programs without leaving Broken Hill.
Tertiary study students can register with the CUC to access their learning and study space, take part in workshops and learning programs, and receive academic support.
When a student graduates with their degree, not only do they have the option to attend their selected University’s graduation, they can also attend CUC’s graduation ceremony, and many do.
The CUC hosts an annual graduation ceremony because they recognise there are students who, often because of the time and distances involved, can’t attend their selected University’s graduation.
Sarah Rolton, CUC Far West Centre Manager, told the Truth, “our local students eagerly anticipated this occasion, to share this milestone with those who supported them along their journey.
“Through this celebration, we not only applaud their individual accomplishments but also highlight the collective potential of our community, and by demonstrating that university education was attainable right here in our own backyard, they’ve paved the way for future generations of students to aspire to pursue higher education.”
“It was an evening of pride and inspiration for us all,” Ms Rolton said. She added that “Foundation Broken Hill and The Far West Local Health District had come on board as the event’s major sponsors, ensuring the event was one to remember.”
Student, Katharine Bolton, who graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Graduate Certificate in Education (Early Childhood Leadership) last year said, “having the CUC here in Broken Hill was instrumental in me being brave enough to take on post graduate studies. I knew any study now would be very different to the first time I studied on campus at university, and the support and academic skills I gained from engaging with the CUC was invaluable.”
Fellow student, Gemma Hanson, graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Southern Cross University. She says, “studying via correspondence in a rural town certainly poses its challenges. Distance learning certainly limits the interactions with fellow peers and professors. But having the CUC available enabled proactive communication with the student service team, resourcefulness, and a group of fellow motivated students all with a strong commitment to self-directed learning.”
As a new year of tertiary education now dawns, CUC Far West is available for students beginning, or continuing their tertiary studies in Broken Hill.
Contact the Centre on 0457 327 937. More information about CUC can be found here – https://www.cucfarwest.edu.au/.
