University of Southern Queensland

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is a medium-sized, regional university based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, with three university campuses at Toowoomba, Springfield and Ipswich. It offers courses in law, health, engineering, the sciences, business, education, and the arts. The institution was established in 1969 as the Darling Downs campus of the Queensland Institute of Technology. In 1970, the institution had provided studying programs for rural Queensland and international communities.[1][3] In 1971, it became the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, then the University College of Southern Queensland in 1990 and finally the University of Southern Queensland in 1992. It operates three research institutes and seven research centres which focus on a wide range of business, agricultural, scientific, environmental, and technological issues.

The University is recognised for having the largest Japanese-designed garden in Australia,[4] Australia’s largest solar integrated carpark, and a library with rainforest and water features.[6] In 2017, the University won the international Green Gown award for its approach to sustainability focusing on renewable energy, waste reduction, water retention, and integration of sustainability into strategic planning.

In 2012, the University’s archaeologists discovered the oldest Australian rock art of 28,000 years old in the Northern Territory, and in 2018, the University’s astronomers discovered a new planet that orbits an ancient star almost 2 billion years older than the sun.

The University is recognised for its efforts in preventing violence against women and cited as employer of choice for gender equality by the Federal Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).