Cotton Production Course Award

The Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre (Cotton CRC) Cotton Production Course, delivered through the University of New England (UNE), has won a national Award for Outstanding Achievement in Collaborative Education and Training.

The Business/Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) Award was presented to Cotton CRC. BHERT's membership comprises the chief executives of major Australian corporations and research organisations and the Vice Chancellors of Australian Universities.

Factors contributing to the success of the course include a blend of information dissemination techniques and industry cooperation and support from all cotton growing regions. The award recognises the collaborative nature of the Cotton CRC and the contributions made by all participants to the cotton course.

The Cotton Production Course offers postgraduate and certificate streams on a two-year part-time external basis, including residentials at the Australian Cotton Research Institute at Narrabri and UNE. The course is also available to university undergraduates, and has also been accepted as a component in the accreditation process of Cotton Consultants Australia Inc.

Course participants, many in remote regional areas, have access to an internet site and multi-media tools such as CD ROMs. Video-based lectures are also under development to cater for other remote cotton production regions. Plans are also in hand to tailor and target the course for overseas markets.