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In this age of deregulation, globalisation and privatisation it is refreshing to meet someone who considers what they do a vocation, rather than a job—someone who is passionate about the core business of learning, teaching and research.

Professor Allan Layton recently joined USQ from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where he was Head of Economics and Finance in the Faculty of Business.

Since graduating with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Economics in 1981 from the University of Queensland (UQ), Professor Layton has held academic positions at La Trobe, Griffith and Macquarie Universities, UQ, QUT and Columbia University in the United States.

“I was attracted to the culture and life of an academic. I enjoy teaching and research and it’s very satisfying to feel like you may have made a difference in someone else’s life.

“The germination and dissemination of ideas is such an important function and service that the University provides.”
Professor Layton’s research has focused on the broad field of macroeconomics, with a special focus on business cycle analysis (the study of economic recessions and expansions).

As part of this research, Professor Layton has written several books, published almost 50 papers in international refereed journals and given numerous addresses to industry and academia in Australia and overseas.

Professor Layton is also looking forward to contributing to the development of the University at a senior level.
“After being a Head of School for a number of years I took the decision to take on the responsibility of Dean of Faculty.

“On a personal level I found that a very attractive prospect as I saw USQ developing a very important niche for itself, particularly in the field of distance education.

“The University has this vision of becoming Australia’s leading transnational university and I like this idea of a university which operates in a number of locations and rejoices in the diversity of its staff and students.

“Given USQ's background, history, values and educational philosophy I think it’s a realistic goal and a great vision.”

Professor Layton is also enjoying the challenge of raising two young children, Caleb and Lilly-Anne, with his wife Monica.

“Neither of us knew too much about Toowoomba before I applied for the job, but we came up a number of times to look at houses and areas so we feel like we now know the city reasonably well.

“Toowoomba is bigger than we thought with a lot of beautiful and charming old Queensland homes.

“It has lots of lovely parks, has great schools and shopping areas, and, compared to Brisbane these days, is a pleasure to drive around. We are very happy living in Toowoomba.”

Prof Allan Layton

If you have an incomplete, deferred and/or supplementary grade (IDS or IS) for any Faculty of Business course you MUST sit your exam in the Semester 2 2006 exam period (6‑24 November). Further details are available at:
<www.usq.edu.au/resources/56.pdf>.

The Semester 2 2006 exam timetable will be released mid September; it is your responsibility to review the exam timetable and update your personal contact details and examination centre. Further details are available at:
<www.usq.edu.au/studentadmin/timetables/default.htm>.

As not all courses are assessed in the same manner, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the course specifications—in particular the assessment details. The assessment details clearly outline the level of competency which must be demonstrated in all assessment items to obtain a passing grade in the course. Don’t forget to review this information as some course assessments (particularly exams) do have a much higher weighting than others. Further details are available at:
<www.usq.edu.au/progcourse/coursespecs.htm>

HOW CAN WE HELP?

What are your issues?
How can we help external students feel less isolated?
Are our study materials in need of improvement?
Are you happy with response times from Faculty staff?
Do you have an idea or constructive criticism to improve performance?
Are you having technology problems?
How can we improve your social/recreational experience on-campus?

HAVE YOUR SAY

Today, tomorrow or any time in the future:

Email:  business.experience@usq.edu.au

WHAT WE'RE DOING SO FAR

• Establishing a Faculty of Business Student Club and club room
• Distributing regular newsletters outlining opportunities and services
• Reviewing discussion board use
• Establishing more corporate contact—guest speakers, cadetships, scholarships
• Revamping orientation
• Investigating business mentors program—particularly for isolated external students.

IN SUPPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Prominent human rights consultant, Leigh Toomey, has given her seal of approval to a paper written by Wide Bay Law Lecturer, Michael Morrison.

The Politics of Human Right to Democratic Governance was discussed at a seminar at USQ that was attended by Ms Toomey, who has recently returned from a Human Rights mission in Liberia.

“Mr Morrison’s paper addressed the issue of whether there is a right to human law in democracy and I thought it was an excellent paper that had many valid points”, Ms Toomey said.

Ms Toomey has worked as a consultant for various non-government organisations (NGO’s) for the past eight years, including the United Nations (UN). As part of this work she has travelled to some of the poorest nations in the world and seen the ugly side of human nature, but she says it is the courage of these people that drives her.

“It is always shocking to see these people who live in such poverty and I have seen my fair share since starting work as a consultant.

“As well as working with the communities I also work with judges and lawyers in these locations to build their legal systems, which is important in any society.

“While it can be hard this is something that I always wanted to do, I love working with local people, seeing how they live and helping them where I can.”

Ms Toomey was born in Toowoomba which sparks the obvious question—how did a girl from the Darling Downs end up travelling the world as a campaigner for Human Rights?

“I am really not sure myself,” Ms Toomey laughed.

“After completing my Bachelor Degree in Law in Australia, I completed my Masters at Yale in the United States and that gave me a window of opportunity into the field and I took it.”

Although Ms Toomey’s return to Toowoomba will only be short there are plans to revisit USQ in the future.

“From what I have seen of USQ it is a University that is growing and I would be happy to give a lecture here.”

For the time being however Ms Toomey will return to her home in Geneva and continue to campaign for those less fortunate.

Human rights consultant, Leigh Toomey, with Wide Bay Law Lecturer, Michael Morrison

USQ SCHOLARSHIPS for Continuing and New Students

HERITAGE BUILDING SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS in Commerce, Human Resources, Marketing and IT.  Open to 2nd and 3rd year Business Students.
Closes October 27

MACKAY SUGAR SCHOLARSHIP ($7500) Open to full-time Business students who will graduate at the end of 2007 and who live in the Mackay, Mirani, Sarina or Whitsunday Shires. Closes 03/11/06
PH 4953 8200

CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER SCHOLARSHIP Department of Defence
PH 1800 020 303

2006 Faculty of Business Scholarship Recipients:

Laura SCURR, Thomas ZILM,
Daniel MacPHERSON, & Leanne SIPPEL, pictured with
Deputy Dean, Dr Rosalind Mason.

MEDIA
Dr. Sarath Delpachitra, Senior Lecturer, Finance and Banking was interviewed last week by ABC Radio regarding a new fuel exchange product for local government authorities.

PAPERS SUBMITTED
Hingst, RD, 2006, Lecturer, Administrative Management, ‘Twentieth century management theory in today’s organisations — how relevant is a forty year old model in the contemporary context of a call centre?’ presented at Business and Economics Society International 2006 Conference, Florence, Italy, 15-19 July.

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Detailed linked news & information for:

• The First Year Experience
• Accounting Students
• Wide Bay Campus
• Springfield Campus

The first year university experience is one met with enthusiasm but often hindered by trepidation. While first year students deal with the pace of change, lecturers at USQ are developing ways to help ease this transition period. The University is committed to maintaining and increasing its high standard of education, and places a significant focus on learning and teaching quality.

In the Faculty of Business several first year course leaders recently met to discuss and reflect on their experiences of teaching of core subjects. These academics identified a range of teaching issues the community will address in an effort to foster a positive learning experience for first year students.

The Community of Practice (CoP) for First Year Core Course Leaders will meet once a month with initiative developers and facilitators politics lecturer, Cassandra Star, and lecturer in learning and teaching designer from LTSU, Jacquie McDonald.

In community meetings academics will share professional experience, identify concerns and issues and develop ways to address these problems.

“There are opportunities for us to foster a stimulating and exciting first year learning journey for our students and to foster lifelong learning.

“However it comes with significant challenges. First year core course leaders are usually the first asked to implement new policies, and to deal with new teaching and learning issues, and directed to adopt new institutional requirements,” Cassandra said.

Business Faculty Dean Professor Allan Layton, joined the group during their first meeting where he commended the project, saying he was 100 per cent supportive of the new initiative.

“The CoP approach to first year issues is a response to the demands on first year core course leaders, as well as recognition of the knowledge and expertise that each core course leader brings to the group.

“We foresee a process that highlights and celebrates our expertise, that builds on past experiences and that supports these challenges we face,” Jacquie said.

Khorshed Alam, Shalene Werth, Professor Allan Layton, Professor Rod St. Hill (back), Bernadette Lynch (front), Pauline Collins (back), Gerard Betros (front)

For sale:

TOYOTA COROLLA Conquest 2002—$13,900, 4 door sedan, white, manual, 115,000km, A/C, Spotless, PH 0432 558 427

BUSINESS BOOKS—LAW1101 Study Book (includes Australian Commercial Law), MGT1000 Organisational Behaviour, CIS1000 Study Book (includes problem-solving cases and Fundamentals of Info Systems), MKT1001 Essentials of Marketing.  $90-$100 each PH 0413 749 329

BUSINESS TEXT BOOKS—MGT1000 includes Textbook CD (unused) & Study Book $90 neg

ECO1000 includes INFOTRAC & online library subscription (unused), plus study book $85 neg. 

MKT1001 includes unused Textbook CD plus Supplementary CD—$85 neg PH 0413 379 983