I find that when you are working hard, striving to make something the best it can be, it is always great to get a little piece of positive news, to inspire you to keep working -- to keep going, even though the goal seems large, or very far away.

Whether it is an assignment you have had a mentor look over, or something larger, like working with a team regarding a major project, it’s great to get feedback on your journey to inspire you to continue the work.

The new edition of the 2011 Good Universities Guide has just been released. For those new to Australia, or new to tertiary education in general, let me give you a brief run-down on the GUG. Each year since 1991, Hobsons Australia has published the Good Universities Guide, a document that aims to help individuals make an informed decision about undergraduate study. The guide contains independent five-star ratings and comparisons of all Australian courses and the providers that offer them. It compares universities in areas such as teaching quality, graduates starting salaries, generic skills and more.

See below for CQUni’s report card:

Categories - CQUniversity 2011 Star ratings out of 5
Entry Flexibility - 3
Teaching Quality - 3
Getting a Job - 3
Positive Graduate Outcomes - 4
Graduate Starting Salaries - 5
Generic Skills- 3
Graduate Satisfaction- 3
Indigenous Participation- 5
Access by Equity Groups- 5
International Enrolments- 4
Cultural Diversity- 5
Gender Balance- 5
Non Government Earnings- 5

As you can see, CQUniversity was awarded six 5-star ratings – more than any other public Queensland university. We are particularly pleased with the high ratings for ‘positive graduate outcomes’ and ‘starting salaries’, because these are independent, real-life indicators that we are creating genuine benefits for the students of CQUniversity as they move into life after tertiary education.

You can be proud that you are part of an institution that works so hard to offer the best possible start to your career, whether it be here, or back in your home country. Take advantage of the resources we have on offer for you. And above all, keep sight of your goals. You never know when that next little piece of inspiration will appear.

Ken.