Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology teaching tailored towards regional needs and graduate employment

Abstract

The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) opened in 1996 and since 1999 held the full university status as well as being the first `Greenfield' university to open in Australia since 1971 (http://www.usc.edu.au/). This status was in line with its mission to become an institution with strong emphasison sustainability and environmentally friendly regional development while transforming a former cane farm into today's multi award-winning modern and distinctive sub-tropical architectural structure. Over the past 20 years the university has played a role as an `urban catalyst' in one of the rapidly growing and transforming regions of Australia with a foundational mission statement: `To be the major catalyst for the academic cultural and economic advancement of the region: by leadership; by pursuit of international standards in teaching and research; and by responsiveness to the needs of students, staff, community and the environment'.