While the university has confirmed a temporary rise in enrolments of Indian students this year, more needs to be done to promote the Bendigo campus to every possible person as an affordable and welcoming institution that is part of a vibrant and engaged community.

La Trobe needs to complete an upgrade of accommodation facilities at its Bendigo campus, and more work should be done to try to attract a broader range of courses, which in turn could attract more students to Bendigo.

The social and financial pressures associated with students who choose to relocate to Melbourne for their tertiary education can be addressed in part by creating positive reasons for more students to consider La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus, should the right mix of courses be on offer.

Too many students from country areas are lost to the city each year, yet here in Bendigo, Australia’s second largest inland regional city, lies a university with so much unrealised potential.

It is pleasing to note comments from the university that it is focused on promoting the benefits of a regional setting in order to ensure continued growth in international enrolments, but sometimes we need to look much closer to home for additional solutions to a challenge that is at the same time local, national and international.

What do you think? Write a letter to the editor, or e-mail editor@bendigoadvertiser .com.au