Regional Roadshow 2024 - Alumni and Community

As a university, we are driven by our passion for Queensland – its people, its landscape and its innovation.

In addition to the over 50,000 students currently enrolled at UQ, almost 60% of UQ’s 350,000+ global alumni community are based right here in Queensland.

UQ’s Regional Roadshow celebrates our students, staff, alumni and diverse partners across the state, and aims to strengthen relationships with leaders in education, government, and industry, alongside First Nations peoples and members of the local community.

Building on a legacy of regional engagement stretching back over 110 years, the program has visited 22 local destinations since 2021. Driven by The Queensland Commitment, we’re seeking out more ways UQ can foster the growth, health, and prosperity of communities across Queensland.

In 2025, the UQ Regional Roadshow program will significantly expand its reach into North Queensland, visiting 10 of the 11 Regional Development Areas across the state. Below is a list of our destinations for the year.

Bundaberg, Maryborough, Hervey Bay: 10-12 February
Rockhampton and Gladstone: 17-18 March
Toowoomba: 2 April and 21 September
Townsville and Charters Towers
Moreton Bay
Springfield
Cairns
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast
Ipswich, Logan, Beaudesert

For enquiries, please contact communityengagement@uq.edu.au

UQ Regional Roadshow activities

Strategic discussions

Led by our Vice-Chancellor, strategic discussions are an opportunity for us to connect with local leaders and community members. Business owners, Traditional Owners, employers, local Council members, school Principals and others attend these sessions to share their experiences and discuss how UQ can support their community’s goals.

Community meetings

We meet with local community members, organisations, businesses and leaders during every Regional Roadshow to get to the heart of what matters in their community. Together we explore opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Business Chamber Queensland and UQ Executive Education Masterclasses

Our Executive Education Masterclasses are for local businesses interested in both their own growth and the growth of their communities. Together with our partners at Business Chamber Queensland, our goal is to strengthen Queensland businesses and retain talent in the regions. In 2025, we will deliver 4 masterclasses in regional locations on topics identified in our 2024 Innovation for Growth workshops with regional businesses

Alumni events

We have 190,000 UQ alumni across Queensland, and UQ Regional Roadshows enable us to meet them in their communities and celebrate their impact. We create opportunities for our alumni to meet and connect with their local network, reconnect with the University and become ambassadors in their area.

UQ partnerships

We partner with communities and businesses across Queensland that have strong connections in the regions. Our Regional Roadshows shine a spotlight on these partnerships and their impact through meetings, workshops and events.

Based on feedback from communities during past roadshows, we have developed seven key areas to focus on in supporting Queensland communities:

Community – The importance of locally-led community engagement, particularly with First Nations peoples, and a consistent presence in the regions.
Liveability – Health and transport infrastructure as well as access to community enrichment programs such as arts, culture and sports.
Research and innovation – The importance of collaboration between universities, industry, and government to accelerate local innovations.
Jobs and skills – Attracting and retaining talent in regions and addressing workforce shortages. This includes assessing the value and impact of student placements as well as the associated challenges (such as cost, accommodation, and work commitments).
Pathways – Role models and clear pathways into tertiary education for regional, remote, low SES, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and first-in-family students.
Sustainability – Energy transitions, addressing impacts of climate change, and learning from First Nations experiences.
Visibility – Bringing focus to key local and regional issues.