University of Queensland teachers have been singled out for exceptional standards of teaching with nine Carrick Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
Now in their second year, the awards are an initiative of the Australian Government as part of a commitment to recognising and rewarding teaching excellence in the higher education sector.
UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Michael Keniger, said The University was proud to repeat its success in last year’s awards, again receiving a 100 percent success rate with nominations.
“Each of the nine nominations UQ made were rewarded, recognising achievement across a diverse range of areas including social science, law, physics, human movement and veterinary science - and this is a reflection of the breadth of quality teaching at UQ,” Professor Keniger said.
“This is a wonderful recognition of the dedication UQ’s teachers have shown to developing the skills and knowledge of their students and will give a great confidence boost to all staff who are passionate about nurturing the next generation of critical thinkers,” he said.
“I congratulate the recipients and thank them for making a real difference to teaching and learning at UQ.”
Over $2.5 million in prize money has been handed down to the various citation winners around Australia at regional award ceremonies in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Federal Education, Science and Training Minister, Julie Bishop, said the awards offered an important opportunity to recognize the type of educational innovation and leadership that has seen Australia’s higher education sector enjoy an international reputation for high quality services.
“It is vital that we continue to strive for excellence in teaching to maintain and build on that reputation,” Ms Bishop said.
“The Carrick Awards play an important role in recognising those who have reached high standards of teaching excellence.
UQ’s recipients included six individuals and three teaching teams, with each citation accompanied by $10,000 prize money.
UQ Winners:
Dr Rob Pensalfini (School of English, Media Studies and Art History) - For sustained commitment to creating a safe and empathetic learning environment, which encourages the development of each learner as a whole person
Dr Noriko Iwashita (School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies) - For developing effective learning communities in ethnically-diverse groups through enquiry-based approaches to teaching and learning at the postgraduate level
Dr Nickolas James (School of Law) - For the creation of teaching and assessment strategies that encourage critical thinking and continuous and independent learning by non-law students in a large law course
Dr Margaret Wegener (School of Physical Sciences) - For readying diverse student cohorts for further learning by effectively engaging them in a variety of first-year level physics courses
Dr Murray Phillips (School of Human Movement Studies) - For the design and delivery of innovative, pedagogical strategies that raise critical awareness of sport and actively engage students in large lecture settings
Dr Jason Connor (School of Psychiatry), Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald (Schools of Psychology and Psychiatry), Associate Professor Charles Mitchell (School of Medicine) - For the development of an innovative clinical communication skills program for medical students
Dr Paul Mills (School of Veterinary Science), Dr Andrew Bradley (School of Information Technology & Electrical Engineering), Dr Peter Woodall and Dr Shan Lloyd (School of Veterinary Science) - For the development of collaborative and reflective learning and preparation of students for professional life, through the use of Virtual Microscopy, an innovative and flexible learning tool
Dr Peter Newcombe, Ms Astrid Sirowatka, Professor Tian Oei, Dr John McLean, Associate Professor Virginia Slaughter (School of Psychology) - For developing and maintaining exemplary broad-based support for international students in academic, personal and cultural transition
Dr David Ip (School of Social Science) - For a decade of exemplary supervision and support of postgraduate research and coursework master students in the field of social science
Media: For more information contact Lucy Manderson at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339 or 0404 388 584)
