Flinders University has a new ‘shopfront’ in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, with the opening today of a facility at TAFE SA’s Noarlunga campus.

Consisting of a reception area, meeting room, staff workstations and student access computers, the facility provides a local point of access to information about Flinders courses, admissions and research opportunities.

The Flinders Noarlunga presence will also serve as an embodiment of the partnership between Flinders and TAFE SA and an important hub for industry representatives for student employment, work integrated learning, research and product testing.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Barber said that in addition to the many practical benefits it offers, the facility sends a very positive signal to the southern community that Flinders is an integral part of the region.

“TAFE SA, as part of the University’s commitment to improving student pathways to tertiary education, already delivers a substantial proportion of the Flinders Foundation Studies program from the Noarlunga campus,” Professor Barber said.

“This new facility gives those students a physical connection to the university and access to university IT equipment while studying on the TAFE campus,” he said.

“But it also presents people of all ages, from Noarlunga to Christies Beach, Aldinga to Victor Harbor, the idea that a university education is within their reach.

“I am also delighted that the Noarlunga presence will allow the pioneering work of our Southern Knowledge Transfer Partnerships program in bringing University, industry and community stakeholders together to operate from a local base.”

Local schools will also be able to take advantage of the Flinders shopfront to explore student mentoring programs and visits to the University’s Bedford Park campus.

TAFE SA Chief Executive Mr Jeff Gunningham said the collaborative venture shows the training provider’s ongoing commitment to connecting TAFE SA and university initiatives to provide enhanced tertiary education options for the public.

“The Flinders presence on Noarlunga Campus will support our existing robust delivery of foundation studies and dual offers and pave the way for a broader, stronger relationship with the University in southern Adelaide, in the future,” Mr Gunningham said.