UQ a learning innovation leader

Views: 2,255 views. Comments: No Comment.
Tags: buildings, teaching and learning, winter-2011

UQ pharmacy students benefit from custom-built learning facilities within the PACE facility

Students are reaping the benefits of The University of Queensland’s position as a global leader in educational innovation, with emerging technologies being incorporated into courses wherever possible.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Deborah Terry said UQ’s substantial investment in state-of-the-art teaching spaces – both physical and virtual – had paid off in the form of enhanced learning experiences for students.

“At the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (PACE), for example, students are able to practise using a dispensing robot and laboratory demonstrations are streamed via wireless video cameras to flatscreen TVs,” she said.

“They can also practise manufacturing, testing and prescribing medication in Pharmatopia – an island in the online virtual reality platform Second Life.

“Physical study spaces, such as The Hive in the library and the Kakadu Room in the Social and Behavioural Sciences Faculty, mean students can work together in areas specifically designed to be conducive to collaboration.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield, Professor Deborah Terry, Professor Michael Keniger and Professor Stephen Walker at the opening of new labs in the School of Biological Sciences in March

Professor Terry said the willingness of lecturers and tutors to embrace new technologies and approaches was self-evident: UQ has won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university.

In 2008, the University established the Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (CEIT), which is dedicated to exploring the opportunities digital tools offer to educators and researchers.

Led by Professor Phil Long, formerly of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CEIT embodies the University’s commitment to developing and adopting evidence-based teaching practices.

“That commitment is key to attracting and retaining the best teachers,” Professor Terry said.

“In turn, having outstanding teaching staff is crucial to meeting our overarching goal of offering a student experience defined by opportunity and choice.”

A goal of graduating tomorrow’s leaders involves building a student body defined by excellence, diversity and balance, with a suite of scholarships tailored according to students’ needs and backgrounds.

“Providing support and opportunities for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds is an important part of our mission and is in line with government policy which aims to greatly increase the number of young Australians obtaining bachelor degree qualifications,” Professor Terry said.

The Office of Undergraduate Education, established in 2009 and directed by Professor Sushila Chang, manages initiatives geared towards nurturing the next generation of leaders, including internships, summer research scholarships and the UQ Abroad program.

“In recognition of the benefits gained through studying overseas, and in line with our global strategy, we have set the goal of 25 percent of our undergraduate students completing a semester abroad,” Professor Terry said.

With first-class teaching staff, state-of-the-art learning infrastructure, a range of program choices and rich opportunities, Professor Terry said the University was well placed to realise its vision of being a truly great global university.

More information is available at the UQ Teaching and Learning website.

By Penny Robinson

• Home
• Graduate Contact
• Alumni Profiles
• Global Education: Divining world trends