Report recommends Muresk expansion

A report by former deputy premier Hendy Cowan on the future of Muresk education institution has recommended the facility is expanded to include TAFE.

The report suggests Muresk should become a multi-use facility offering agricultural higher education qualifications, TAFE qualifications, short-term industry training and farm-based research.

The report established that there is a need for a more skilled workforce in agriculture.

"The report found that to meet the challenges and opportunities for WA's agricultural sector, the rural workforce need to be more skilled with more secure career paths," said Education Minister Liz Constable.

Curtin University will keep using the Muresk campus next year, but is not taking any new students in 2011.

CY O'Connor College of TAFE, which is headquartered in Northam, will commence TAFE courses in agriculture at Muresk from 2011.

The college is also seeking further accreditation for Associate Degree courses to offer from Semester 2 next year to feed into agriculture-related degrees at Curtin, Murdoch and UWA.

Dr Constable thanks Mr Cowan for his work and his vision for a new style Muresk to meet the state's agricultural workforce needs.