Fewer students are taking up the study of languages at universities across the country – but at The University of Western Australia and others like it across the nation, Italian is the one language that is flourishing and its popularity is due in part to students like 22 year-old Jane Te, of Willetton.

Malaysian-born Jane has just finished three years of Italian Studies and she said she loved every minute of the rigorous course, even though at the end she was the only Asian student.

Business education and research has been boosted with the announcement of an A$5 million partnership between BHP Billiton and The University of Western Australia Business School.

Announcing the partnership today, President BHP Billiton Stainless Steel Materials Mr Jimmy Wilson said the company would provide $5 million to support the establishment of a new Professorial Chair - known as the BHP Billiton Chair in the Business of Resources - new research initiatives, new scholarships as well as targeted training and education.

The University of Western Australia will offer a new Masters in Science Communication and Education for the first time next year in a bid to ease the State’s shortage of high-quality science teachers.

At the launch of the new course today by WA’s Chief Scientist, Professor Lyn Beazley, UWA’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training) Robyn Owens said the course would provide a much-needed boost to the education sector in Australia.

On 10th March the next intake of students to our science programmes offered by PSB Academy in Singapore will commence their studies. There are currently over 350 students in our programmes in Singapore. As a result of their expanding operations, TÜV SÜD PSB Corporation Pte Ltd are building a new campus at Jalan Bukit Ho Swee (Delta Campus) which will complement the premises already at Jalan Bukit Merah (Henderson Campus).