A Note From the Director, Professor Ronel Erwee

Welcome to the USQ AGSB Newsletter.

Congratulations to all the graduates who received their awards during the April graduation!

As USQ is concerned about the academic progress of all students, the university is using more monitoring and assistance processes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

For the past two years, we have been advising our postgraduate students in this newsletter to monitor their Grade Point Average to ensure that it is above 3.5 to avoid being asked to 'show cause' and perhaps face exclusion. The AWARE program has been designed as a self-diagnostic tool to assist students in identifying and managing challenges - see <http://usqcmsdev.usq.edu.au/aware/default.htm>.

University wide, there is a second initiative to encourage inactive students who are students with acceptable GPAs, but who have not enrolled in the current semester, to return to study. Such students will be receiving a letter from us encouraging you to take specific actions.

The third project is to identify those students who are progressing very slowly and who could run the risk of exceeding the time limit of their study, and subsequently provide them with suggestions on how they can improve their progress.

The AWARE program may assist all types of students to diagnose and manage specific challenges.

Although USQ can draw your attention to your poor progress, it is your responsibility to use all resources to manage your academic achievements.

Use for example the new study resources on

<http://www.usq.edu.au/currentstudents/resources/default.htm>  or student support on <http://www.usq.edu.au/currentstudents/support/default.htm>.

Prof Ronel Erwee

DBA dissertation workshops in three locations

 Director of USQ AGSB Professor Ronel Erwee recently presented DBA dissertation workshops and had personal consultations with candidates in Singapore, Germany and Canada. The Faculty of Business has the privilege of supervising some exceptional DBA students. We currently include examples in DBA study materials from the dissertations of graduated students such as Dr Lee-Guan Poh, Dr David Chew, Dr Wolfgang Stehle, Dr David Quemard, Dr Peter Lake, and Dr Soin Singh.

 In Bretten, the group celebrated the graduation of Dr Wolfgang Stehle. Dr Stehle is the first DBA student to graduate from the USQ European Study Centre. This Centre was developed in conjunction with the City of Bretten under the guidance of the Lord Mayor Metzger and Mr Martin Steinbuchel.  Dr Stehle's dissertation topic was about the transfer of human resource policies from German MNEs to subsidiaries in South East Asia.

Pictured (L-R):  Martin Steinbuchel; Oberburgermeister Metzger; Haridas Palmke; Statrad Gerhard Mayer; Dr Wolfgang Stehle; Prof Erwee; Frank Behrend.

During the Singapore dissertation workshop, the current DBA candidates were inspired by Dr Lee-Guan Poh who related the strategies that he used to successfully complete his dissertation. Barbara Skadiang from Malaysia joined Singaporean candidates Cheung Pui Yuen, Koo Wai Mun and Kong Chan Nam to discuss the progress of their research.

Pictured (L-R):  Cheung Pui Yuen; Koo Wai Mun; Dr Lee-Guan Poh, Kong Chan Nam; Barbara Skadiang.

Five of the ten Canadian/USA DBA students are staff members of Okanagan College, University of British Columbia.  Three of the OUC staff members Heather Banham, Sherry Pice and Lynn Sparling are in the final stages of their dissertation, whereas Kerry Remple and Sheilagh Seaton is joining Mike Henry in starting their DBA program.

Pictured (back L-R):  Mike Henry; Heather Banham; Lynn Sparling; (front L-R):  Sherry Price, Sheilagh Seaton, Prof Ronel Erwee, Kerry Remple.

Fostering multiculturalism at USQ

The multicultural staff network and the USQ Australian Graduate School of Business hosted a multicultural lunch on 23 February.  The aim of the event was to bring together all USQ members from various cultural backgrounds and those who are supportive of the multicultural character of our local community.  The special guest, Professor Frank Crowther, delivered a short talk in his capacity as Pro-Vice Chancellor for regional engagement  and social justice.

Pictured (front L-R):  Prof Frank Crowther (Faculty of Education), Aniko Hatoss (OPACS), Prof Ronel Erwee (USQ Australian Graduate School of Business), Dr Krzysztof Batorowicz (Equal Opportunity Office) and (back L-R): members of USQ’s Equal Opportunity Committee.

Top tips for postgraduate study 

Do your research

·                    Talk to peers, alumni, course coordinators and lecturers

·                    Visit open days, expos and information sessions

·                    Consider the quality and reputation of the course and institution generally and its standing within your industry.

Understand the time commitment

·                     Be aware that it will consume more of your time than you expect

·                    Consider the impact on your work time

·                    Develop and implement time management strategies

·                    Construct and adhere to a detailed schedule

·                    Be organized

·                    Identify areas of flexibility such as exit points and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

 Analyse your motivation

·                    State and quantify your goals and expectations

·                    Assess your needs and establish your criteria

·                    Review your reasons in the context of your career direction 

Keep the balance

·                    Retain some semblance of a social life

·                    Balance work, study and home life

·                    Treat free time as an asset 

Secure the support of your employer

·                      Seek support in terms of time and/or finances 

Assess your family situation - can you cope?

·                    Ensure your spouse supports the initiative and is involved

·                    Allocate time for family 

Financial outlay

·                    Assess part payment options vs. payment up front

·                    Conduct a cost-benefit analysis

·                    Be realistic in your salary expectations post study

·                    Investigate grants or scholarships 

Be involved

·        Actively participate in the course and ask questions

·        Interact with other students and build your network of contacts 

Do...

·                    study to learn - not to pass

·                    enjoy learning for what you get out of it - not just the qualification

·                    eat well and look after your health 

Don't...

·                    procrastinate

·                    take on too much or over-commit yourself

·                    take it too seriously

·                    let study rule your life 

(Source: *2003 Postgraduate Research, Exhibitions Plus Pty Ltd)