USQ wins national awards for programs that enhance learning

USQ has received two highly prestigious national awards for programmes that enhance student learning.

The University received two of the fourteen Awards offered nationally for Programs that Enhance Learning by The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

The USQ Engineering Problem Solving Strand team, led by Ms Lyn Brodie, won in the Innovation in Curricula, Learning and Teaching Category and the USQ Outreach Services team, led by Mrs Suzanne Milroy, won in the Services Supporting Student Learning Category.

Mrs Suzanne Milroy said she was delighted to win the Award.

'USQ Outreach Services provides a range of student support services and systems to encourage student networks, to meet individual needs of students, and to promote communication between USQ staff and students,' Suzanne said.

Based in Toowoomba, Brisbane and 16 regional locations, USQ Outreach Services have been providing guidance, advice and support to students throughout their learning journey for 30 years.

'I am very excited about the win. This Award reflects that non-academic staff play an important role in the student learning journey and also recognizes the critical and unique support system we play in relation to student support.'

Senior Lecturer (Electronics & Communication) in the Faculty of Engineering & Surveying, Ms Lyn Brodie, was also excited to receive an Award.

'The award is based on the implementation of four courses in engineering and surveying which use Problem Based Learning,' Lyn said.

'While this technique is not new, it is rarely done in a 'virtual' mode. We have teams who never meet face to face but conduct all meetings and solve the real world engineering problems by meeting entirely electronically. They use email, msn and discussion board.'

Lyn said a large staff team support each course.

'Students are in teams of up to eight students and each team has a staff member to act as a 'facilitator'. The facilitator mentors and oversees each team helping them solve both technical and team problems.'

USQ Vice Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove congratulated Lyn and Suzanne and their teams on their achievement.

'For a regional University to win two of the fourteen Awards is an outstanding achievement,' Professor Lovegrove said.

'USQ is committed to offering programs and services that support students and flexibility for students and these Awards recognize programs and services that set benchmarks for similar activities in other institutions.'

The Awards will be presented at a ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra on 27 November.

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092