Successful Cross-Campus Management of First Year Engineering Courses

Central Queensland University (CQU) is a young multi-campus regional university based in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, Australia. The engineering undergraduate program consists of a combination of project-based learning, cooperative education and professional practice. The first year of the engineering undergraduate program at CQU can be studied at any one of three campuses; Rockhampton, Gladstone or Mackay. Gladstone and Mackay campuses are separated by one hour and three hours travel by road respectively from the Rockhampton campus. During their first year of study, students have the opportunity to reside in their home city or region enabling a smoother transition from secondary to tertiary education. A significant component of the first year program is delivered using the project based learning (PBL) paradigm, utilising a range of delivery modes including face-to-face workshops, synchronous video-conferencing of lectures, print-based materials, and Web-based learning management. In this paper, the authors examine the challenges associated with providing equitable learning opportunities for students studying first year PBL courses across the three campuses, and methods used to assess this. The advantages and disadvantages of modern electronic communication are considered, both from the point of view of staff and students. The additional complexity introduced when delivering a PBL course across remote campuses is also discussed