USQ's New Teaching Academy to Focus on Excellence

Excellence in teaching and learning will be the focus of the University of Southern Queensland's (USQ's) new Teaching Academy which will officially open on Thursday 4th September at the USQ Toowoomba Campus Refectory. 

The goals of the Academy include acknowledging best practice, facilitating the study of learning and teaching, enhancing university-wide participation in learning initiatives and providing opportunities for international networking and community engagement.

Membership of the Academy will be by invitation only to distinguished academic and professional staff who support student learning.

Vice Chancellor of USQ, Professor Bill Lovegrove, said quality of teaching was central to the university's purpose.

'What sets USQ apart from many other institutions is the commitment of staff to students," he said. "In many ways a university's reputation stands or falls on the quality of its teaching staff. There is no doubt that USQ staff is committed to their students and their fields of expertise.'

'We want to develop further the skills and resources of our staff by investing in various reforms that will create a truly world-class quality of education for our students,' he said. 

Professor Lovegrove said technology was a critical factor in achieving learning and teaching goals for USQ.

'In order to meet our teaching goals, USQ needs to invest in the right systems, resources and staff,' he said. "New technology will be critical. A major part of our operations must be available as a virtual university via the internet.'

The new Teaching Academy will be organised by the Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) under the auspices of USQ's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), Professor Lynne Hunt.

Members of the Teaching Academy will work together to promote, support disseminate and exemplify outstanding practice in teaching and learning within USQ, through leadership and scholarly activities.

The 41 inaugural members of USQ's Teaching Academy are: Jill Lawrence, Eleanor Kiernan, Alfio Parisi, Birgit Loch, Helen Ison, Lorelle Burton, Andrew Hoey, Gerry Fogarty, Bernadette McCabe, Mt Kent Observatory, Team Marie Kavanagh, John Dearnaley,   Joseph Mula, Cassandra Star, Aileen Cater-Steel, Kim Southey, Shalene Werth, Bernadette Lynch, Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Lyn Brodie, Thiru Aravinthan, Mark Porter, John Worden, Peter Gibbings, David Buttsworth, David Dowling, Barbara Harmes, Lyndal Wood, Carmel Barrett, Peter McIlveen, Penny de Byl, Outreach Services, Linda Galligan, Janet Taylor, Jacquie McDonald, Jim Taylor, Tertiary Preparation Program, Karen Noble, Robyn Henderson, Jerry Maroulis, Ann Dashwood

For further information contact Christie White on + 61 7 4631 2576
Media enquiries to Ally Martell + 61 7 4631 2092