21 June 2024
By Hannah Wilcox
Charles Sturt University Campus Director Andrew Knight has called for Council to start facilitating a “cultural difference” to cater to the influx of young people living in and visiting the area.
Knight was a panellist at Council’s Economic Development Community Forum on June 11 as a representative of the newly opened university.
Having opened its doors three months ago, Charles Sturt recently passed its first cohort of students through their first semester at the Berry Street Campus.
“With all universities, we all strive for a ‘sticky campus’”, Knight said.
“You want students to come in, you want students to stay and attend classes mostly, but hang around and use the facilities on campus.”
“That extends outside the campus as well,” he added.
“We saw what’s been happening with the growth of green space and maybe blocking off roads, so it really becomes attractive for students to come and stay because there’s a bit more to do than just sit in a classroom.”
The Director said North Sydney’s boom into Sydney’s CBD provides abundant opportunity and a seamless transition for students into the workforce.
“We’re very happy to be in North Sydney, we think it’s a great location,” he continued.
“You will find us to be a very active business – I call it a business but it’s probably more than that – in the local community and as to the question of what can councils do, I think .. facilitation for a business like ours that probably wants to get involved in a big way.”
He added: “We want them to work locally. We have students that will want to come and work in the gig economy or small business.”
“Plus, integrated learning is quite big with us so we’re looking for internship placement opportunities, and then hopefully employment. Going on to one of the tech firms or big businesses here in North Sydney CBD.”
The panel touched on a 24-hour economy and how that would look in North Sydney, by extending activity beyond traditional working hours and diversifying the area’s offerings across hospitality, retail, entertainment, wellness and arts and culture.
“How do we think a little bit broader as to who are the audiences that we can engage with?” panellist Victoria Moxey, 24 Hour Economy Commissioner/Director of Programs at Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade, proposed.
Knight continued: “[Students] will be spending money. Culturally, we’ll be a very interesting business because we’ll have a wide range of international students that don’t necessarily live in North Sydney, it’s a bit expensive, but who would be visiting quite a bit.”
“Cultural events will add a lot of difference to the LGA.”
When asked what opportunities Charles Sturt could provide, Knight acknowledged although it is mostly students coming on to the campus it can be utilised for the wider community.
“It also is a community space where we would welcome other people to come in,” he said.
“So we would hold cultural events, we’ll probably hold lecture series or learnings we can share with the wider community. “
The Economic Development forum was a part of a wider consultation campaign encouraging residents to “have your say on our next ten years”.
It looks to take on board feedback and recommendations across five key focus areas: Culture and Creativity, Economic Development, Integrated Transport, Open Space and Recreation, and Social Inclusion.