CENTRAL Queensland University's (CQU) largest student recruitment event went off with a bang on Saturday with hundreds of aspiring students in attendance.

The CQU Open Day occurs every year and is an opportunity for prospective students to access a range of information about courses on offer.

Professor Pierre Viljoen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Campuses in the Mackay-Whitsunday Region, said the Open Day was a top chance to engage with the community.

"We've got the CQUni Creates art collection on display this weekend and this is the first year we have held the event across both our Ooralea and city campuses,” he said.

"It's a great opportunity for everybody to come in and get acquainted with the university and see what is on offer.”

Professor Viljoen reminded people that the university offers both vocational and higher education courses, including several brand new course offerings.

"Our remedial massage program is a whole new offering that we have just brought in,” he said.

"Our sport and exercise program is really taking off and so is our engineering program.

Professor Viljoen has been the Vice-Chancellor at CQU for nine years and is passionate about creating opportunities and helping people be what they want to be.