Image: Anne Davis 773
A revolutionary new research and learning centre has been opened at the University of Queensland as part of Queensland broader digital education agenda.
Science Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Centre for Digital Scholarship, part of the university’s library facilities, was a huge plus for both students and researchers.
“The new centre provides infrastructure and support for students and researchers from across the university who are working with big data, and will foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, creativity and innovation,” Ms Enoch said.
“Library staff and other experts will be on hand to provide support and training in areas of digital scholarship.
“The centre will provide access to specialist software as well as training and support in text mining and analysis, data analysis, geographical information systems, visualisation and image manipulation.”
Ms Enoch commended the university for establishing the new centre which she said was important in producing the digital citizens Queensland needed to advance a knowledge economy.
“The centre aligns with the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland vision of increasing digital literacy in the state, ultimately contributing to a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurialism in Queensland,” Ms Enoch said.
University of Queensland Provost Professor Aidan Byrne said digital technologies were fundamentally altering all aspects of life, and it was essential for the university to support the educational needs and expectations of a digitally minded and enterprising generation of students.
“We must provide the programs and resources required to develop graduates with the knowledge and skills to navigate technologically advanced working environments if we are to help them build meaningful and agile careers,” Professor Byrne said.
“The Centre is an important initiative for the library and the university, providing students and researchers with access to specialised technology, tools, and support for emerging areas of digital scholarship,” she said.
The Advance Queensland Community Digital Champions program was launched in November 2015 and since that time has launched Community Digital Champions to help Queensland thrive in a global economy.
