Education planning workshop shapes the year ahead

Remaining competitive in a challenging higher education environment was the focus of the Faculty of Education’s 2010 annual planning event earlier this month (February).

Academic and professional staff from across the University’s three campuses converged on Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre for the two days of intensive workshops.

USQ Dean of Education, Professor Nita Temmerman, said the event provided a valuable opportunity to: 'celebrate the achievements of the Faculty and recognise the position of strength from which the Faculty was commencing the new academic year, as well as explore how the Faculty will continue to engage with and respond to not only the USQ strategic goals, but also the Higher Agenda change agenda post-Bradley'.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Scholarship) Professor Graham Baker highlighted the core themes of 2010, which is USQ’s Year of Research.

Additionally, Office of Research and Higher Degrees director, Dr Ren Yi, informed staff of the various new regulations in the university research sector and the implications of these at the Faculty level.

Faculty of Education Associate Dean, Associate Professor Patrick Danaher, said the Faculty in recent times had produced many significant achievements in research and publishing.

'Our key research focus for this year - individually and collectively – is to remain competitive in a challenging higher education environment and be strategic in engaging with that environment while also being true to our own values and aspirations,' Associate Professor Danaher said.

With the entire suite of Education programs now fully available in online (web) mode, an afternoon was devoted to exploring Teaching and Learning aspects for online communities.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Learning), Professor Philip Candy, presented the USQ perspective within a broader global frame, which was then discussed by the Faculty’s Learning and Teaching academics in remaining sessions.

Professor Temmerman highlighted the significance of the two-day event, not only in terms of setting the scene for another successful year for the Faculty, but also in continuing to build shared understandings across the three-campus operation of the Faculty.