$220K grant to enhance learning and teaching

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) teaching staff will be better equipped to enhance learning and teaching, including curriculum development and assessment, with the receipt of a $220K grant from the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

Awarded under the Promoting Excellence Initiative, the grant will assist USQ facilities and campuses to build their capacity to apply for and access Carrick grants, awards and fellowships.

Established in 2004, the Carrick Institute is the country's peak body for promoting and advancing learning and teaching in Australian higher education.

Director of the Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) and the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) at USQ, Professor Lynne Hunt, said the grant will provide opportunities for academics to chart a career based on learning and teaching.

'The grant will provide staff in a regional university, such as USQ, with opportunities to integrate their work with national initiatives and it will offer support to busy academics to apply for grants and awards that will provide a sustainable flow of funds for learning and teaching initiatives,' Professor Hunt said.

Grants and awards offered annually by the Carrick Institute include the highly prestigious Carrick Awards for Australian University Teaching and the Carrick Grant and Fellowship Scheme.

While the grant aims to build the capacity of teaching staff, it is USQ students who will ultimately benefit from the funds.

'The important thing is to achieve noticeable outcomes for students, and what students notice most are good assessment and feedback practice and intellectually engaging courses,' Professor Hunt said.

'Coal-face, faculty staff are in the best position to spot opportunities for curriculum improvement so providing support to them to apply for Carrick grants will open the doors to meaningful change that will enhance student learning.'

USQ Vice Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, said the grant will also assist the University to revitalise programs as part of the Realising Our Potential project.

'USQ is currently creating a suite of programs that integrate high quality benchmarks and allow students to have the flexibility to move between programs and obtain skills that might not necessarily have been available previously.

'This grant will enable USQ staff to access web-based resources, professional development programs, teaching summits and support programs that will lead to innovative curriculum development,' Professor Lovegrove said.

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