The Mudgee Country Universities Centre (CUC) has officially opened, after the former NSW Nationals Government put $1.27m towards the project.
Nationals Leader and Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders, announced the project in March last year and said it is a significant milestone for the community.
"Where a person chooses to live should not limit the opportunities they have to achieve higher levels of education and skills," Mr Saunders said.
"This centre will provide equitable access to higher education, enabling students to engage in and successfully complete their studies in a safe and flexible learning environment.
"It will also encourage graduates to stay and work in the regions while they complete their studies, which is future-proofing the workforce and helping to boost the local economy.
"I've heard personal stories from local students who have already started using the facility. It is saving them time and money while removing the stress of travel and being away from home."
The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with modern technology, high bandwidth internet, space to study, and access to video conferencing.
Mid-Western Regional Council committed $1.03m to the project including project management, while Glencore provided $200,000 and ACEN committed $20,000 p.a. for a period of five years.
Mr Saunders said it is fantastic to see community support providing a real uplift to the operational sustainability of the CUC.
