This year's Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning prove QUT is hitting the mark in teaching quality and the student experience.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) Professor Suzi Vaughan said QUT received seven Citations of the maximum eight nominations submitted in the 2012 AAUT Citation round.
"This is an outstanding achievement by QUT staff," she said.
"QUT is one of only three universities nationally to receive seven Citations and no institution was awarded eight Citations in this round."
The accolades for QUT come from almost every corner of the university and represent academics at different phases of their careers.
"We have an exceptional mix of established and early career academics and professional staff who represent a wide range of disciplines throughout QUT," Professor Vaughan said.
"They have been recognised for their distinctive and leading edge approaches to learning and teaching that maximise student engagement and real world outcomes."
Professor Vaughan said having both individual and group winners showed the university to be a leader in collaboration across disciplines involving academics and professional staff working in partnership as well as recognising the achievements of individual staff.
The team awards focused on large scale faculty and institution wide programs that are supporting and enhancing the learning experiences of thousands of QUT students.
The Teacher Education Done Differently (TEDD) team, made up of Dr Suzanne Hudson, Associate Professor Peter Hudson, Michelle Murray, Jenelle Edser and Justine Hudson, supports final year students' preservice by providing 44 days of applied learning experiences in real classrooms. The students deliver one-on-one and small group teaching supported by teachers who have undertaken TEDD's nationally acclaimed mentoring program.
The Student Success Program run by Carole Quinn, Professor Karen Nelson, Joanna Bennett, Wayne Duxbury and Julia Humphreys, is part of a holistic university-wide approach to first year student engagement success and retention. The program's focus is on students reaching their full potential and has supported more than 40,000 students with its tailored advice and referral system.
Individual winners include:
• Dr Mark O'Brien who motivates microbiology students to be flexible thinking scientists by using interactive real-world learning experiences.
• Lecturer Lindy Osborne prepares architecture students by infusing research, digital technologies, virtual space and simulated office learning environments.
• Associate Professor Lloyd Reed was recognised for his sustained leadership in the podiatry profession and scholarship that provides students with innovative curricula and resources, and high quality clinical learning experiences.
• Dr Glen Thomas' inspirational teaching of professional writing stimulates and supports students' learning and transforms their perceptions of the discipline.
• Dr Rumintha Wickramasekera was recognised for developing authentic environments in international business classrooms to deepen engagement and improve the quality of students' achievement.
"QUT has an outstanding record of achievements under the Australian Awards for University Teaching in line with achievements under the national Teaching Fellowship program. This includes the recent announcement that Associate Professor Margaret Lloyd received one of only six National Teaching Fellowships awarded in 2012," Professor Vaughan said.
"We are very proud of these achievements. They are indicative of a robust, positive and future oriented culture in learning and teaching at QUT."
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Media Contact: Alita Pashley, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 or alita.pashley@qut.edu.au
