The University of the Sunshine Coast will this Sunday stage its annual Imaginarium and Open Day – a major event that is expected to attract 8,000 visitors from across Queensland.

Unlike most university open days, USC’s Imaginarium from 10am to 2pm will be a fun community festival designed to fire up the imaginations of all Coast residents.

The free event will feature live entertainment from Darren Percival and Hoo8Hoo, interactive activities for all ages, new technologies, plenty of food and the opportunity to find out more about USC’s range of undergraduate and postgraduate study programs.

Visitors can take campus tours, chat one-on-one with academics, gain career advice, find out all they need to know about starting study, and learn about new degrees in Serious Games, Environmental Management, Sports Studies, Criminology and Health.

Fun activities will range from a paper plane flying competition, rock climbing and navigating through a giant maze to stepping inside a giant bubble or watching a fast-paced game of Quidditch.

There will be a world of food to enjoy as well, with vendors selling international dishes from countries like Germany, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Spain.

Among the many prizes up for grabs is a $10,000 trip to either Malaysia, Cambodia or Tonga where USC is involved in important research.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said Imaginarium was designed to welcome, excite and inspire Sunshine Coast residents to connect with their university.

“We invite the wider community to engage with us, explore our fabulous facilities, and see first-hand the brilliant contribution that USC makes to the Sunshine Coast region and beyond,” he said.

“Education is clearly transformative, and this fun festival will give people a chance to discover the life-changing opportunities available to them at USC.”

For more details about USC’s Imaginarium and Open Day on Sunday 9 August 2015, go to www.usc.edu.au/imaginarium

— Terry Walsh