Deakin and Gordon in peninsula campus plan Higher learning

Alex de Vos
Local tertiary institutions are in talks about opening a combined campus on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Deakin University and Gordon Institute of TAFE could join forces to offer diploma courses in fields such as hospitality and agriculture.
Deakin University’s Rob Wallace gave the proposal a thumbs up after reviewing latest figures about higher education participation levels in regional areas.
“Bellarine Peninsula is well below the state average in the number of students undertaking higher education,” he said.
“University isn’t for everyone but there are some very bright students who are missing out because they think it’s too expensive or too far away.”
Mr Wallace said Deakin would be interested in helping establish a campus on the peninsula if it could help guide local youths into tertiary education.
Gordon’s John Van Klaveren said the institute was also keen on the peninsula plan.
“Gordon has seven campuses across the state at the moment and we see establishing multiple campuses as high on our calculations,” Mr Van Klaveren said.
“From our point of view, taking education to the people is a way of the future.”
The Bellarine Peninsula has a high unemployment rate but no tertiary education facilities.
About a third of the peninsula’s 42,000 residents are aged between 17 and 34, the age group most likely to participate in higher education
Deakin University has campuses on Geelong’s waterfront and at Waurn Ponds, Burwood and Warrnambool.
Deakin offers courses including nursing, science, engineering, business and arts.
Gordon Institute of Tafe has six campuses across Geelong and one in Melbourne.