More than 90 new students have walked through the doors and enrolled at the Canberra Institute of Technology's new Tuggeranong campus since it unofficially opened two weeks ago.
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Chair of the CIT Board Craig Sloan said part of the CIT's new strategic direction was to connect campuses with the local community and the early weeks of the Tuggeranong campus have already paid dividends.
"It's a great opportunity for connecting students and businesses here in the heart of Tuggeranong," Mr Sloan said.
"It was important for us to have a world-class education facility that gave students, staff and the local community opportunities for training and development, and enable local businesses to find a future workforce."
Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research Meegan Fitzharris officially opened the campus on Thursday, July 28.
"I am very pleased to see the culmination of a $10.7 million investment in the Tuggeranong Valley with a fantastic new learning environment," Mr Barr said.
The campus was a Labor commitment at the 2012 election and was championed by former Education Minister and Member for Brindabella Joy Burch, who Mr Barr acknowledged at the opening.
Mr Sloan said it was particularly pleasing to be able to roll out the opening in the same week as the launch of a new strategic plan, Strategic Compass 2020: Evolving Together.
"What we're seeing here in Tuggeranong is what we're wanting to roll out across our other campuses as we modernise and develop far more contemporary learning spaces that are fit for purpose in today's world," Mr Sloan said.
"Going forward a big part of our investment is involved in digitising what we do.
"We'll be putting far more emphasis into online learning so that students can do their learning at a time that suits them, so they'll be able to work remotely from any campus if that suits them.
"Our students have been at the heart of every decision in the strategic plan."
The Tuggeranong campus will become the CIT's Centre of Excellence in Innovative Teaching and Learning practices. It will cater for 600 students.
CIT students, Giorgia Cox loves her new learning environment, calling it warm and open and conducive to learning.
She is studying for a certificate three in business admin and plans to continue studying for certificate four now she has such ready access to the new campus.
Ms Cox, 19, of Oxley, is a nominee in the ACT Trainee of the Year Award. She studies full time and works full time in the city for the Molonglo Group.
"I come in here of a Thursday morning before I go into work and the new space is so much better. It's close to home but right in the town centre and that's great."
