CQUniversity Drives Innovation In Agricultural Education For Queensland Schools

CQUniversity has been selected as the new agribusiness provider under the Queensland Government Gateway to Industry Schools Program through to 2028.

The Gateway to Industry Schools Program builds partnerships between schools and key Queensland industries to enable young people to acquire the knowledge, skills and attributes to participate effectively in the State’s economy and provides opportunities for industry and the education sector to work together to deliver outcomes for students, local communities and businesses.

Each project is led by industry organisations which develop and implement tailored school engagement activities in line with their industry's key skills and workforce priorities.

As the new provider for the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools project, CQUniversity will partner with AgForce Queensland, AgriFutures Australia and the Queensland Agricultural Teachers Association (QATA) to activate school engagement and education programs for 15 schools, with the goal of introducing young Queenslanders to the many careers available in the State’s agriculture industry.

Associate Professor Amy Cosby, head of CQUniversity’s Agricultural Education and Extension team welcomed the announcement and said the University was well-placed to work with high schools and the agricultural industry across Queensland.

“CQUniversity has a strong track record in working with industry and schools across Australia to offer programs which raise the aspirations for students to pursue a career across the agricultural supply chain and highlight the vital contribution the of sector to the Queensland economy.

“We look forward to building on the great work of the QLD Department of Primary Industries (formerly DAF) who have delivered the project for the past three years,” said Assoc Prof Cosby.

“Our activities are designed to showcase the many different skills needed in the sector including on-farm roles and those that support the industry such as marketing, finance, science, technology, trades, and supply chain and logistics.

“It is our aim to introduce kids in high school to the industry and to build excitement and interest in agriculture – especially among those from non-farming backgrounds.”

Assoc Prof Cosby said the CQU project will offer two activity streams for schools to get involved in, the first is to apply to be a Gateway School where the project team will work closely with school staff over 12 months to create connections with industry and build capacity to embed agriculture across the curriculum.

“The second offers the chance to participate in teacher professional development or to host the project team in class to deliver curriculum aligned lessons focused on science and technology of agriculture,” she said.

CQUniversity will commence as the service provider for the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools project in February 2025 and schools interested in becoming involved in the project will be able to apply from early 2025.

For more information, and project updates please visit CQU’s Agri-Tech Education and Extension website or email ageducation@cqu.edu.au.

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