Reconciling International Aspirations with Regional Responsibilities: The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) as a Case Study for a Regional Transnational University

Lovegrove WJ¹*

1. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is a non-elite regional Australian university approaching its fortieth year of operation. During its development, USQ has continually expanded its horizons, developing a flexible learning program from the 1970s that resulted in a growing proportion of its student body being made up by non-locals studying at a distance – with external students now representing 75 per cent of the student body – and expanding naturally into international education from the 1980s – with 25 per cent of the student body now made up by overseas students studying in their country of origin.

Particular models for regional engagement predict that a university with USQ’s profile would undergo a weakening of its engagement with its regions because of a lowering of its dependence on local on-campus students. In fact, USQ’s experience is that its development as a national and international flexible education provider has served as a basis for strengthening its ties with its regions.

USQ recently adopted its vision to be Australia’s leading transnational educator. Transnational encompasses the notion of an organisation that operates in a number of locations – as at home locally as it is nationally and internationally – and one that rejoices in the diversity of its staff and students. USQ’s strong grounding in its regions and its aim to bring the benefits of internationalisation to its regions are an important aspect of its vision.

The factors underlying USQ’s position as a regional transnational university are analysed and discussed.

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