Chisholm signs MOU with Deakin to develop bachelor pathways for local students

Chisholm Institute CEO, Maria Peters and the Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor Jane den Hollander have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will deliver new pathways into a number of Deakin bachelor qualifications.

The signing of the MOU marks an important milestone in building education opportunity for the communities and industry of the south east of Melbourne.

CEO of Chisholm, Maria Peters said the signing of the MOU demonstrates Chisholm's commitment to building and realising the educational aspirations of students living in the southeast.

"Chisholm continues to be the tertiary Institute of Choice in the southeast and building on the relationship we have with Deakin demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build aspirations to higher education degrees for our students, school leavers and our communities," she said.

"The potential of this strategic relationship in Dandenong is most exciting.

"It has been our vision to ensure that for our higher level programs, Diploma and above, there are a range of pathway options into higher education courses for our students. "Each higher education option aims to build capability and meet the skill needs of industry across our region as well as enable our students to gain a degree and have a strong career pathway."

The Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor Jane den Hollander, said the MOU enabled the two organisations to work together more closely for the benefit of students, particularly those 'first in family' and low SES students who wished to participate in VET and Higher Education studies.

"At a time of change in the Vocational Education and Training Sector, Chisholm had shown great leadership; presenting itself as having a strong vision and an unfailing commitment to excellence," Professor den Hollander said.

"Chisholm is highly respected within both the region and state, with its strong credentials as a leader in education and training.

"Deakin has a strong desire to be a genuine partner and work closely with Chisholm to increase the delivery of tertiary programs to Pakenham and beyond through technology and innovative delivery models as well as explore opportunities for onsite delivery of university programs in Frankston and Dandenong. "

Ms Peters said the MOU builds on already successful and collaborative projects focused on offering higher education courses from Chisholm's Dandenong and Mornington Peninsula campuses.

"Since 2009 Deakin at Your Doorstep has given Chisholm students the opportunity to complete a Deakin associate degree independently, or combine it with study in a selected, career-focused Chisholm diploma qualification," she said.

"In 2013, the redesign of Deakin's Bachelor of Early Childhood Education will give Chisholm's Diploma of Children's Services graduates credit into the first year of the degree. "They complete the bachelor using video conferencing technology to study locally at a Chisholm location.

"Planned new pathways for development will allow students undertaking studies at Chisholm in Diploma and Advanced diploma programs to have a choice of degree pathways in Architectural Technologies, Social Work, and Criminology and post graduate Business programs."

Ms Peters said the organisations were exploring opportunities for Chisholm's Bachelor of Engineering Technologygraduates who currently complete a three year engineering technology degree to also access a fourth year conversion into Deakin's professional bachelor program or qualify for entry into Deakin's Master of Engineering.

"Our relationship with Deakin and working on projects that are actually aimed at providing new local higher education opportunities for our graduates across the region has been very positive," Ms Peters said.

"Chisholm values the relationship with such an innovative forward thinking University.

"The experience has allowed both organisations to work through the ways in which we can best cooperate to achieve excellent outcomes – to help our students to realise the future they want."