DT #620 The Power of Place: What U.S. Communities Can Learn from Australia’s Country University Centers

Show Notes

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Paul Cranch from Brisbane to explore one of the most innovative and community-driven education and workforce models in the world: Country University Centers (CUCs).

Designed to expand access to tertiary education in regional and rural Australia, CUCs are community-led, community-run facilities that allow students to pursue university degrees without leaving their hometowns. The result? Stronger local economies, reduced brain drain, and a new generation of homegrown talent fueling regional prosperity.

Paul shares how this model emerged, why it works, and what economic development professionals around the world can learn from its success.

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Key Topics Covered

• The origins and purpose of Country University Centers, and how they were created to serve regional Australia
• Why community-led, community-run facilities matter in expanding access to higher education
• Reversing brain drain by keeping students local and attracting talent back to rural communities
• Creative funding models combining federal, state, local, and private sector investment
• Economic ripple effects: workforce development, business engagement, and entrepreneurship
• Scaling and sustaining the model while keeping communities at the center
• Lessons for other regions, including online learning partnerships, governance structures, and community engagement strategies
• Real-world success stories featuring student demographics, degree programs, and regional outcomes

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About Paul Cranch

Paul Cranch is an experienced economic development professional, consultant, and thought leader dedicated to helping communities turn local potential into lasting prosperity.

Based in Queensland, Paul has worked extensively with councils, regional organizations, and state agencies to strengthen local economies, attract investment, and build professional capability. He is the founder of Local Economic Impact Advisory, an independent consultancy focused on data-driven strategy and place-based impact.

Paul is also the voice behind several influential professional newsletters—EcDev with Paul, EcDev Jobs, and EcDev Data—connecting thousands of practitioners across Australia and internationally with practical, evidence-based insights.

Before returning to Australia, Paul spent more than a decade in Japan, studying commerce in Japanese at Kansai University and building a career in brand management and international business development. This experience shaped his global perspective on cross-cultural partnerships, investment facilitation, and place branding.

He is an active contributor to Economic Development Australia and international networks such as the International Economic Development Council, where he champions professional development, community readiness, and practical leadership.

When he’s not advising communities or writing about economic development, Paul can be found training at CrossFit, volunteering in Brisbane’s Japanese community, or traveling across regional Australia discovering the stories that shape local economies.

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Featured Resource

Paul is the author of:
BUILDING PLACES INVESTORS BELIEVE IN: How to attract, win, and keep businesses investing in your region

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