U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d

www.usq.edu.au

USQ SpringfieldUSQ Springfield

A Different ApproachA Different Approach Doug Fraser – Director USQ Doug Fraser – Director USQ

SpringfieldSpringfield

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n dU n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND• Opened S1 2007Opened S1 2007• Located within Education City (EC) Located within Education City (EC)

SpringfieldSpringfield• EC is a joint venture between Springfield EC is a joint venture between Springfield

land Corporation and MIRVACland Corporation and MIRVAC• Bremer TAFE subtenant of USQBremer TAFE subtenant of USQ• Other EC tenants include secondary Other EC tenants include secondary

school, language providers, VET school, language providers, VET providersproviders

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n dU n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d

WHY BE PART OF EDUCATION WHY BE PART OF EDUCATION CITY?CITY?

• Location, location, locationLocation, location, location• Transport, infrastructure, Transport, infrastructure,

employmentemployment• Motivation of other partiesMotivation of other parties• Economies of scaleEconomies of scale• Reduced capital costsReduced capital costs• Educational pathwaysEducational pathways• Entry into Brisbane marketEntry into Brisbane market

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n dU n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d

KEY EXTERNAL ISSUESKEY EXTERNAL ISSUES

• Contractual basis – landlord/tenant relationshipContractual basis – landlord/tenant relationship• Third party requiring profit - USQ requires Third party requiring profit - USQ requires

surplus but margins are thinsurplus but margins are thin• Third party operating in free market, university Third party operating in free market, university

operating with constraintsoperating with constraints• USQ public institution subject to state and USQ public institution subject to state and

federal requirementsfederal requirements• Potential conflicts in areas of growth and Potential conflicts in areas of growth and

operationsoperations– Third party focus on expansion and risk shiftThird party focus on expansion and risk shift– Third party focus on future tenants as customers, Third party focus on future tenants as customers,

university focus on students as customersuniversity focus on students as customers

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n dU n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d

KEY INTERNAL ISSUESKEY INTERNAL ISSUES

• Campus must provide operating Campus must provide operating surplus to parent institutionsurplus to parent institution

• Accountability rests with one Accountability rests with one individual – Director USQ Springfieldindividual – Director USQ Springfield

• Director responsible for all campus Director responsible for all campus and academic operationsand academic operations

• Zero base budgetingZero base budgeting• Conflicting operational and marketing Conflicting operational and marketing

prioritiespriorities

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n dU n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d

WORKING WITH FACULTIESWORKING WITH FACULTIES• Programs approval subject to Springfield Programs approval subject to Springfield

business casebusiness case• Programs are purchased by the DirectorPrograms are purchased by the Director• Faculties responsible for delivery and quality of Faculties responsible for delivery and quality of

agreed programsagreed programs• Academic staff under operational control of Academic staff under operational control of

Campus but belong to FacultiesCampus but belong to Faculties• All commercial risks accepted by CampusAll commercial risks accepted by Campus• Faculties make no profit from Springfield Faculties make no profit from Springfield

programsprograms• Campus operates under zero base budget – Campus operates under zero base budget –

faculties operate on a load based budgetfaculties operate on a load based budget

Does it Work?