University of Southern Queensland

University of Southern Queensland

Coat of Arms of USQ
Former names	University College of Southern Queensland (1990–1992)
Motto	Per Studia Mens Nova
Motto in English	"Through study the mind is renewed"
Type	Public
Established	1967 (see Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education)
Chancellor	John Dornbusch
Vice-Chancellor	Janet Verbyla
Administrative staff	1573 total staff FTE (2016)
Students	27563 (2016)
Location	Toowoomba, Ipswich and Springfield, Queensland, Australia
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	Regional Universities Network
Website	www.usq.edu.au

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. USQ has been a leader in distance learning by leveraging technology since the 1970s, which has allowed it to serve rural Queensland and international communities through its on campus, off campus, and online programs. In 1998 it was named World’s Best On and Off Campus University by the International Council for Open and Distance Education and was winner of the Australian University of the Year Award in 2000-2001.

It operates three research institutes and seven research centres which focus on a wide range of business, agricultural, scientific, environmental, and technological issues.

The institution was established in 1967 as the Darling Downs campus of the Queensland Institute of Technology. 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.

Queensland Institute of Technology (Darling Downs) opened on 2 February 1967 in Toowoomba. It had 140 foundation students. In 1971, the institute became the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (DDIAE), an autonomous multi-purpose college. DDIAE, managed by its own College Council, began offering distance education in the mid-1970s. By 1980, there were more distance students than those on campus and DDIAE educated 75% of the country's international students in the 1986-1987 school year. From 1980 to 1990, DDIAE grew significantly from 1,000 to 8,000 full-time student equivalents (EFTSL). It became the University College of Southern Queensland (UCSQ) in 1990, under the sponsorship of the University of Queensland.

In 1992, the institution became the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) when it gained full university status. USQ was a founding member of the Regional Universities Network that was launched in 2011.