Local students taste tertiary life at Warrnambool Campus

Warrnambool College year 11 students will get a taste of tertiary education this week when they attend an orientation program at Deakin University.

The students will spend the week on the Warrnambool Campus preparing for their Year 12 studies while they learn a little about life at university.

Warrnambool College principal Mary Pendergast said the program, titled Jump Start, was designed to give students a good grounding for Year 12.

"They receive presentations about the rules and regulations of VCE and VCAL and are given an overview of their subjects along with units of work which will give them a head start for the next year," Ms Pendergast said.

She added that the Deakin location was ideal for students as it had good facilities, including a lecture theatre, and offered students a new environment.

"It is good for them to get some independence and the feel of a university. It gives them the opportunity to see how they would feel about attending Deakin and that university is not a remote part of education and the local community."

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Rural and Regional) Professor Sue Kilpatrick said the initiative was a good example of Deakin's close links with local schools.

"One of our priorities is to continue to grow our relationship with local schools and to present Deakin as a viable option for local students," Professor Kilpatrick said.

The students will be at the Campus on 23-26 November. Year 10 students will join them for a presentation from Deakin staff about what is offered at the Warrnambool Campus.