Local Matters

PROFESSOR ANDREW VANN EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY PLAYS IN SUPPORTING REGIONAL COMMUNITIES.

- Jodie Darlington

More than two-thirds of Australia’s population live in our capital cities, and this number is increasing every day. While many people are attracted to the bright lights of the big cities, there are also numerous downsides, including traffic congestion, pollution and higher living costs. For Professor Andrew Vann, there’s no comparison: he simply loves living in regional New South Wales. “I think we just have a much better standard of life in regional communities,” he explains.

Originally from the UK, Andrew moved to Australia in 1996 and has spent the past seven years living and working in Bathurst as Vice-Chancellor and President at Charles Sturt University (CSU). “I do love Sydney, but I would much rather live in Bathurst because you don’t have the traffic or expensive housing,” he adds.

With more than 43,000 students and campuses in Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga, Canberra, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Parramatta, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga, CSU is Australia’s largest regional university. Andrew believes regional universities have many advantages for students. “It’s much more cost-effective to study in regional areas compared with the big cities,” he points out.

“As Sydney and Melbourne become more congested, I think people are starting to look around and say, ‘There must be a better place to live.’ So we’re starting to see people exit the big cities and look for a different lifestyle in regional cities.”