Letter Member for the Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies wrote to the Education Minister on Tuesday.
Dear Minister
BACHELOR OF AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, MURESK INSTITUTE
In recent days a number of concerns have been raised directly with me in relation to the future of the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management (BABM) course offered at the Muresk Institute.
I write to seek clarification as to whether the State Government intends to continue to support the BABM course to ensure its long-term success.
I understand there has been low enrolments for the 2017 intake, and have been advised that this may partly have been due to an online glitch on the Department’s website that made it difficult for prospective students to enrol. Regardless of whether this is the case, it does seem there is an anomaly between the numbers enrolled in previous years and 2017.
The students I speak with tell me they choose to study at Muresk specifically because of the calibre of the Charles Sturt University degree, but also because they are embedded in a working farm, exposed to stakeholders and the industry they aspire to work in.
Industry stakeholders have been supportive of the degree, sponsoring scholarships, underwriting project partnerships, donating materials and livestock and their own time and expertise to enhance the learning experience for all students.
The requirement for industry to invest in the development of a sustainable degree at Muresk was one of the key requirements whenRoyalties for Regions funding was initially provided.
It was always intended that the Agribusiness degree would be self-sustaining in the long term, and I believe the numbers and growing support from students, stakeholders and industry demonstrate this is possible.
The graduates completing the degree have either gone onto further study, or gained employment, and a number of those still completing the course have been made offers pending graduation.
They are highly sought after by a sector that is desperate for those with the skills and education they attain at Muresk.
Having invested significant time, effort and money into the redevelopment of Muresk into a multi-disciplinary campus with a focus on agricultural excellence I urge you to consider continuing to support the Agribusiness degree. I am not suggesting that funding will be needed in perpetuity, but it would be a cruel blow for those involved to walk away from something that has the potential generate real value for the agricultural sector.
The decision of Curtin University to cease offering a degree course at the Muresk campus left many disillusioned and concerned that there was no future for the campus.
It has taken some time for confidence to be rebuilt, and as we see more students graduate this will go further to encourage others to see the Institute as a viable and desirable place to complete their studies.
I look forward to your consideration of this important matter. Muresk has a long history of creating top calibre graduates, it is well-regarded not only in my electorate, but State wide and there are many people who anxiously await the result of the review we are told is underway.
Yours sincerely
MIA DAVIES MLA
Leader of The Nationals WA | Member for Central Wheatbelt
