JCU at a glance
James Cook University is Australia's leading tropical research university and takes its name from the 18th century British navigator and explorer James Cook. Cook's epic voyages in the southern hemisphere contributed significantly to the world of science.
The University was proclaimed in Townsville on 20 April 1970, and has grown into a multi-campus university with its main sites located in the vibrant tropical northern Queensland cities of Townsville and Cairns.
Smaller study and research centres are located in Mackay, Mount Isa, Orpheus Island, Paluma, and "Fletcherview" near Charters Towers. JCU Brisbane has been established with the Sarina Russo Group. Visit JCU locations for more information about these centres.
JCU Singapore was founded in 2003, giving the university an important presence in Asia. Offshore partnerships include SEG International Bhd in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Guangzhou University and Beijing University of Technology (China) and a nursing training program in Fiji.
JCU is a high-ranking research university with a strong focus on matters relating to the tropics. It enjoys an international profile, maintained and promoted through linkages with universities and research institutions worldwide.
In 2005, JCU became the foundation Australian member of a new global alliance of marine focused institutions. Bremen University (Germany), Ocean University of China, Pukyong National University (Korea), Tokyo University of Marine Sciences and Technology (Japan), University of Southampton (UK) and the University of Western Brittany (France) joined JCU to establish the International Association of Marine-Related Institutions (IAMRI) to promote global collaboration in education and research in marine sciences.
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