The Queensland College of Wine Tourism (QCWT) is a joint venture between the Department of Education and Training and the University of Southern Queensland. The college opened in March 2007.
A state-of-the-art $8.5 million education and training facility for the Queensland wine tourism industry, the College facilitates education and training at secondary, TAFE and tertiary levels through its education partners:
Stanthorpe State High School and the 12 other Gateway Schools to the Wine Tourism industry
Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE
USQ – Faculty of Sciences; Faculty of Business
Other significant partners include the Queensland Wine Industry, the Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation and Southern Downs Regional Council.
The college operates the Banca Ridge winery, cellar door and bistro, conference and function centre as a real industry context for the delivery and vocational education and training.
The college is also a research centre for the University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Sciences and operates a commercial grape and wine analysis service in conjunction with Vintessential Laboratories.
The Wine Tourism Gateway School Project commenced in 2005 and now has 13 schools involved throughout the Queensland wine region.
The project aims to help young people make a successful transition from school into further education and/or employment in the industry. By blending school, vocational and academic curricula targeted to industry needs, the aim of highlighting the profile of the wine tourism industry and the career opportunities available for students are being achieved.
The gateway schools, which are strategically located throughout the Queensland wine regions, are forming strong partnerships with their local Wine Tourism Industry to:
raise the profile of careers in wine tourism
develop and implement curriculum that encompasses a wide range of wine tourism related activities
create opportunities for work experience, structured work placements and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships
strengthen positive collaborations
give young people a head start into the industry
provide professional development to teachers to enhance their knowledge and skills in wine tourism
recognise the best and brightest through annual awards.
The formation of strong partnerships between the Department, schools, the tertiary sector and industry has provided the capacity for the development of curriculum, expansion of the project to 13 schools in seven wine regions and provide hands-on experience for students in a growing Queensland industry.
The Queensland College of Wine Tourism (QCWT) board of management is responsible for overseeing the business operation of the QCWT and provides governance for Gateway Schools Project.