Accessible for the local community for the CUC Macleay Valley

The Country Universities Centre (CUC) Macleay Valley board is excited to announce the CUC Macleay Valley will be located at Kempsey Central. With the Centre planned to open for students in early 2021.

After considering several locations, the CUC Macleay Valley board has opted to refurbish space in the heart of the CBD to ensure local students are best supported in their studies.

CUC Macleay Valley Chair, Liz Campbell, said that for locals it has long been a reality that if you want to study a degree you have to move away for university, or study via distance and face the challenges of studying on your own.

“Excitingly, the CUC Macleay Valley will provide students with the opportunity to connect with likeminded people, create a learning network, and study in a brand-new study hub,” Mrs Campbell said.

“The board feels that the Kempsey Central location is ideal for the community and will become a space where students will be best supported to achieve their study goals.

“The dedicated learning space will offer everything from access to reliable super-fast internet, state-of-the-art technology, generic academic support as well as a focus on student’s health and wellbeing, ” Mrs Campbell said.

The CUC Macleay Valley will be free for students studying at any higher education institution in Australia.

The CUC’s Centre Manager, Kinne Ring, who was one of the many students who had moved away from Kempsey for university, said she is excited that the CUC will shortly open for students the Macleay Valley community.

“I know what it’s like to have to leave to study. Having the Country Universities Centre here in Kempsey will be of enormous help to those students who want to achieve their higher education dreams without leaving their friends and family,” Ms Ring said.

“Almost 50 per cent of students studying at CUC’s around NSW are the first in their family to undertake higher education. Having a Centre in your town, that visibly demonstrates to future students that they can succeed and achieve their higher education goals, despite treading a path that hasn’t been trodden before is a real advantage.

“The CUC believes that you can be what you can see, and having a physical space where the community can see their peers studying, can hear about their success, and see the possibilities higher education provides is going to make a positive impact,” Ms Ring said.

“Our goal with the CUC Macleay Valley is to raise the aspirations and provide localised support for all our students who want to undertake higher education.”

The CUC’s fit-out shall be undertaken by Lahey Constructions. Lahey are a Kempsey based builder of more than 70 years, their portfolio spans state-wide.

Project Manager, Ben Lee said “we are excited to be working in our hometown and look forward to delivering this significant project. It shall be an important facility for the valley.

Gowings who own the facility, welcomes the CUC to Kempsey Central. John Gowings expressed his delight in the project, “At Kempsey Central, it’s great to see the city coming to the country. Kempsey students, thanks to technology and the new student hub, will be able to live, study and play close to home. They may even be able to take advantage of our new Riverside Cinema”.

The Centre is planned in early 2021. To find out more about the CUC Macleay Valley, please contact the Centre Manager, Kinne Ring, to learn about registering and how the CUC Macleay Valley can assist you and your studies at degrees@cucmacleayvalley.edu.au.