Centre for Continuing Education (CCE)

The CCE was established in 1984 to continue and develop the work carried on since 1964 by the department of Adult Education and by its predecessors.

In 1978 the Vice-Chancellor, BR Williams was concerned about the department of Adult Education and established a working party to look into how adult education could be practically sustained within the university. The final report of the party was received by the new Vice-Chancellor, JM Ward, in 1981. This led to Ward requesting the department produce plans for the reorganisation of the department to make it more cost effective and geared toward continuing education. The outcome was a reduction in staff and those remaining were placed into administrative roles to promote the Centre for Continuing Education.

Upon recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor Senate at its meeting on 5 March 1984 passed the resolution establishing a 'Centre for Continuing Education whose functions shall be determined from time to time by the Senate'. The teaching staff were part time and funded from student fees. DG Peat was appointed Acting Director, later to become Director.

Under this new direction a public profile was raised for the Centre and the newly designed program was a success. The Centre offered courses for the general public based around the arts and humanities; courses for professional and graduate students; preparation courses for non-matriculated students planning to enter tertiary study at the University and which would allow them to apply for a Special Admission place; and public lectures funded by donations.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the Centre expanded and was able to fund itself through the fees of the enrolments. The program expanded along with the staff and the Centre offered courses in business studies, I.T. skills and language courses which reflected the increasing demand for professional and vocational courses.

The Centre currently offers 260 different courses and the teaching staff are selected from over 450 University teachers, industry professionals and training consultants.The function of the Centre is given as a not-for-profit centre of the University of Sydney. Its role is to make the teaching and research expertise of the University available to the public through short courses.

Senate Resolution 5 March 1984:

1. There shall be a Centre for Continuing Education whose functions shall be determined from time to time by Senate.
2. In these resolutions, Continuing Education shall mean any form of education, whether vocational or general (but not including programmes leading to a degree or diploma), that is undertaken after an interval following the end of initial continuous education.
3. The work of the Centre shall include the Discussion Groups Scheme, Special Discussion courses, the 'Current Affairs Bulletin', radio and television programmes prepared within the Centre and any other external activities consistent with 2. above; all forms of co-operation with the University's own Departments that may need administrative assistance in organising courses, lectures, seminars or tutorials within the meaning of the definition of continuing education in 2.
4. The Centre shall, not later than the month of May in each year, lay before the Senate a report for the preceding calendar year.
5. (1) The Centre shall have an Advisory Committee consisting of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the Registrar, The Bursar, the Director of the Centre (if there be one) and persons appointed by Senate.

Since the Centre was established in February 1984 by Senate resolution, the resolutions were amended a number of times. It had dropped some areas of work named in these resolutions (e.g. Current Affairs Bulletin and radio broadcasts) and developed others (e.g. Continuing Professional Education and Continuing Education West) required the resolutions to be amended.

The Centre put forward a proposal to draw up a new Resolution for the Centre and the Advisory Committee rather than amend the original resolution. (See Director Report 9 March 1988 for The Need for a New Senate Resolution for more information) This was done in May 1988. The new resolutions were required to:

1. Provide a clear statement of the Centre's function and area of work
2. Provide an Advisory Committee whose structure allows for more effective representation from this University's various continuing education/community activities and which could also include leading members of the community served by the Centre.
3. Provide a structure of sub-committees to undertake the detailed review and development of the individual areas of the Centre's work.

In 2003 the operational scope of the CCE was broadened to: providing the continuing education activities, the expertise of the University in teaching and research to the members of the community; develop a closer relationship between industry, business, the professions and the University, through the provision of continuing education activities.

In 2020 the CCE was an integral part of the University’s interaction with the community by extending access to the University’s resources and expertise, and by acknowledging the important role of education in empowering people to be their best. The Centre meets the need for lifelong learning with hundreds of short courses spanning from ancient history to languages and business skills.