Students in Hay and across the Southern Riverina can now access tertiary education closer to home, with a new Country Universities Centre (CUC) officially opened yesterday.
Co-located at the TAFE NSW Connected Learning Centre, the Hay CUC provides high-speed internet, dedicated study spaces and academic support - making it easier for students to undertake tertiary study close to home.
The new centre is part of a growing network that has supported around 7,000 students across NSW since 2017, helping to build a pipeline of skilled workers in areas such as health, education, and community services.
Students across the network are enrolled in more than 616 courses through 171 tertiary providers, with most graduates going on to live and work in regional communities - helping address local workforce shortages.
The Hay centre has been established through Australian Government funding, with support from the NSW Government, and demonstrates how co-locating university study hubs with TAFE NSW facilities can deliver more connected education pathways in regional communities.
Country Universities Centres also support greater participation in higher education among underrepresented groups, including students balancing work and family commitments, with many the first in their family to undertake tertiary study.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
"Students in Hay can now access hundreds of courses and study close to home, without the cost and disruption of moving away.
"These centres are delivering real results - helping more regional students get qualified and go on to work in their local communities, particularly in areas like health and education.
"By co-locating this centre with TAFE NSW, we're making it easier for people to move between vocational training and university study, all in one place."
