USQ Teaching Academy Board to help promote staff achievements

The USQ Teaching Academy Board

The establishment of the new USQ Teaching Academy Board will help to ensure that the learning and teaching achievements of Academy members do not go unnoticed according to Board Chair Professor Lynne Hunt.

The Board, which consists of academics from across the University, has recently been created to oversee the activities of the USQ Teaching Academy and promote the learning and teaching accomplishments of Academy members.

Launched earlier this year, the Academy’s goals 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.

'The Teaching Academy was formed to honour the teaching achievements of USQ staff and comprises academic, professional and administrative staff who have been awarded citations, awards and fellowships for learning and teaching,' Professor Hunt said.

'One aim is to build the careers of Academy members through further learning and teaching achievements.'

'How this is done is determined by the Board, which has suggested media and mentoring workshops.'

Along with Professor Hunt the other academics on the Board are Dr Tas Bedford, Ms Lyn Brodie, Associate Professor Marie Kavanagh, Dr Birgit Loch and Dr Joseph Mula.

Professor Hunt added that it was important that the Board had representation from all different sections of the University.

'USQ supports a coherent student learning journey so it is important to share ideas across the University,' she said.

'The cross-faculty representation on the Board assists this process and creates opportunities to disseminate teaching excellence through faculties. 

'Springfield Campus is also represented on the Board so we have been able to draw on a wide range of expertise.'

Although only in its infancy, the Academy has already attracted more than 50 members and is continuing to grow with the Board planning a number of events over the next six months.

'Meetings are kept to a minimum but we try to circulate the latest information about learning and teaching to Academy members.

'We hope to engage Academy members with both the 2010 USQ Learning and Teaching week early next year and the Community Engaged Research Evening in a few months, and the Vice-Chancellor has said that he will host an Academy event so that he can listen to the opinions of expert colleagues.'

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559, 0400 485 447