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UNE aims for CRC at Moree

August 09, 2004

Narrabri access centrejpg.jpgA joint bid involving the University of New England to open a Precision Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre at Moree will be discussed tomorrow at the official launch of UNE’s Moree and Boggabilla Access Centres.
Professor Ingrid Moses, Vice-Chancellor of UNE, will officially launch the Moree and Boggabilla Access Centres during a three-way, high tech videoconference link between Moree, Boggabilla and Armidale.
It is at this Dr Paul Frazier, a senior lecturer at UNE, will discuss his efforts to combine with universities Charles Sturt and South Australia, along with 10 industry partners, to open the CRC in Moree.

“The CRC has a total value of about $85 million over five years and we should know by December this year whether our bid is successful,” said Dr Frazier, who said the consortia faced competition from 33 other groups calling for CRC funding.
The opening of the Access Centres at Moree and Boggabilla will be followed the next day by the launch of similar centres at Inverell and Tenterfield.
Three-way videoconferences, using latest Broadband technology, will be a main feature at each launch.
An Aboriginal dance company is expected to perform at Boggabilla, a feat that will be beamed live to audiences in Moree and Armidale. Audiences gathered at all three centres will then enter into a joint videoconference discussion.
All the new Centres, including the Narrabri Access Centre opened in April, are on TAFE campuses. The new Access Centres, together with the UNE Tamworth Centre, will take advantage of recent developments that are making high-quality communications technology available to communities in north-western NSW.
"UNE takes very seriously its commitment to the people of the region," Professor Moses said.
"We are establishing these Access Centres, with the help of a Commonwealth Government grant, to ensure that our country communities have a competitive advantage and are not left behind in the information age. Our collaboration with TAFE in this venture, built on the strengths of both institutions, will create more opportunities for people to undertake tertiary studies while staying in their home town and district."

For more information phone Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779
or Frances Kelly on (0417) 678 144

Posted by Lydia Roberts at August 9, 2004 12:15 PM