Marcus Oldham opens $10m agribusiness learning centre
Students at this leading agribusiness college in Geelong will enjoy “seamless” lectures from experts across the country, and around the world, in a new $10m hi-tech learning centre.
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GEELONG’S Marcus Oldham College has opened a new $10 million learning centre, designed in collaboration with a global leader in education environments.
The Douglas Boyd Learning Centre was officially opened to students after a naming ceremony last week.
Principal Simon Livingstone said the building offered students and teachers the best possible environment and technology to maximise future developments in education.
It has three flexible learning spaces and was designed in partnership with Dr Peter Jamieson, an Australian expert in modern teaching environments.
“You can have very good lecturers that know their content and can deliver well, but you also need to create the environment that is conducive to learning and staff satisfaction,” Dr Livingstone said.
“When you walk into the building there is a real sense of pride and sense of a really nice space to learn and for staff to work.”
Instead of traditional lecture-theatre seating, the centre includes rooms with tech-equipped tables, where small groups can learn together, a reading lounge, technology hub and external amphitheatre.
Dr Livingstone said the centre’s digital technology allowed guest lecturers to be “beamed in”, giving students a seamless learning experience.
The college’s history is also showcased throughout the building.
Starting with 14 students in 1962, Marcus Oldham now has a total enrolment of 260 students, with 150 on campus daily. It offers degrees in agribusiness, agriculture and equine management.
“We are trying to educate the best farmers, farm managers and equine managers,” Dr Livingston said. “Although there have been hardships – including drought and fires – that need to educate and train leaders of our sector continues and there is still a bright future in agriculture.
“This would be the biggest project that we have had since Marcus Oldham was first founded.
“Since it commenced in 1962, the college has been upgrading facilities through a range of projects. But, this will certainly set it up for a very good future focusing all on exemplary agribusiness and equestrian management education.”
The centre is named after Douglas Thornley Boyd, who was the grandfather of philanthropist Philip Myer who seed-funded the project through his Murradoc Farm at Drysdale, on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Douglas Boyd was a successful grazier through the mid 1900s and chairman of the Australian Wool Board from 1940-1950.
“Of all the philanthropic possibilities that the Myer family could contribute to, the combination of agriculture and education was one of the most exciting,” Philip Myer said.
“Developing the next generation of keen minds to manage Australia’s agricultural resources is why I chose to partner with Marcus Oldham.
“I am very proud of the importance my family and the provision Murradoc farm has played in seeding this project.”
Marcus Oldham raised more than $7.4 million for construction, with donations coming from the student community, graduates, industry professionals and philanthropic trusts.
Geelong companies 3id Architects and Rendine Construction completed the project, which has been nominated for the 2020 National Architects Awards.
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