Dr Jill Lawrence wins national teaching award

A USQ academic with three decades of teaching experience has been named as one of the top 24 university teachers in the country, with the receipt of a Carrick Award for Australian University Teaching.

Senior Lecturer in communication at USQ, Dr Jill Lawrence, received the award in the Humanities and the Arts Category for her contributions to students' learning, with a specific focus on first year communication courses.

'Along with my colleagues we try very hard to engage with first year students and help them succeed at university,' said Dr Lawrence.

'To me this Award is recognition of the fact that teaching is a collaborative effort with my peers in the Faculty of Arts and across the University and with the students.'

A passionate educator, Dr Lawrence said teaching is about creating open dialogue between teachers and students and allowing both parties to question, reflect, participate and create meaning.

'USQ has a very diverse student body so I work hard to recognise their backgrounds and their needs and find out who they are and their learning styles and beliefs systems and values.

'Teaching is also about integrating new technologies, embedding literacy, engaging with the students and having fun – you have to be relaxed and have fun.'

USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, congratulated Dr Lawrence on her Award.

'Carrick Awards are incredibly competitive and very significant within the sector, so this is an outstanding achievement for Jill and USQ.

'The receipt of these awards also reflects positively on the University's commitment to shaping and continually improving the student learning journey.'

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

USQ also received two of the fourteen Carrick Awards presented for Programmes that Enhance Learning.

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 Ms Suzanne Milroy, won in the Services Supporting Student Learning Category.

For further information on the Carrick Awards, refer to www.carrickinstitute.edu.au

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