The University of Southern Queensland has forged a reputation as a strong performer in the Australian higher education sector, providing education worldwide through an extensive online presence and from three physical locations in Toowoomba, Springfield and Ipswich. For three years in a row, we've been ranked No. 1 in Australia for graduate starting salary and almost 80% of our students gain full-time employment on completing their degree. We are focused on developing industry-relevant programs and work-ready graduates and driving economic and social development.
We are a regional university at the heart of our community and aim to bridge the gap in attainment rates between regional and remote students and metropolitan students; drive productivity for the regions; and undertake research with impact in key areas of focus, including space and defence, health, agriculture and regional development. Our community and industry relationships enrich the experiences of our students and provide the workforce of the future for our regions, which are on a strong growth trajectory.
Through our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we recently received the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena Swan Bronze Award - an initiative which will drive positive and lasting change in progressing gender equity. Women have historically been, and continue to be, significantly under-represented at the University in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medical (STEMM) disciplines of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mathematics and Information Technology.