USQ academic wins education grants

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Springfield campus academic Associate Professor Marie Kavanagh has been successful in her bid to win two Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) grants, designed to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in higher education.

Through the first Competitive Grant valued at $145,000 USQ will become the lead institution working with the University of Western Australia and the University of Melbourne to examine student team virtuality in business education in the 21st century.

The second grant valued at AUD147,000 will see the university work with Charles Sturt University on valuing quality teaching in business education.

Assoc Professor Kavanagh said the grants were aimed at promoting excellence in learning and teaching in Australian higher education.

'Giving students the best possible opportunities to learn and excel in their lives has always been a high priority for me and I am always inspired by their achievements,' she said. 

'The ALTC grants will go a long way towards promoting innovation in terms of how we teach and engage students in order to develop knowledge and skills essential for their careers.'

'Part of this is acknowledging and valuing quality teaching.  The research conducted will help USQ to continue to provide the highest level of tertiary education to our students.'

Many former high school students in the suburbs surrounding Ipswich and USQ Springfield would remember Associate Professor Kavanagh as a teacher or head mistress at their local schools.

'In a previous life, I have taught at Ipswich State High School and Bremer State High School and was also Head of Business at the now closed Richlands State High School for six years,' she said.

'I still maintain close links with schools in the region, through the Ipswich Regional Business Teachers Advisory Group which meets regularly on campus at USQ Springfield and I am also currently a member of the West Moreton Anglican College board.' 

Business Education, particularly in the local area has always been a focus of Associate Professor Kavanagh's career. 

'To be able to offer high quality business programs such as the Bachelor of Accounting and Sustainable Business, Law and Commerce so close to home for students in the western corridor at USQ Springfield is wonderful.'

'Some of the students I have taught in the past are finding their way to USQ as mature aged students looking to fulfil their life ambitions as are their children as school leavers.'

Media Contact:  Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979