From a coffee club for Singaporean students to a Japanese architecture studio, The University of Queensland has recognised the people who are driving its growing achievements in internationalisation of the University and the curriculum.
Winners of the 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Internationalisation were announced at the annual Teaching and Learning reception on Wednesday, October 31, during UQ’s Teaching and Learning Week.
The awards recognise individuals and groups that have shown leadership in areas of international work that further the goals of the University.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj congratulated the winners, whose work is giving students and staff opportunities to take advantage of UQ’s global focus.
“International experiences and skills help students and staff to progress in the competitive global environment, and – importantly – they equip them to contribute strongly to their own communities and economies,” Professor Høj said.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Debbie Terry said the quality of award nominees signaled that impressive innovation aimed at internationalisation was widespread at UQ.
The 2012 winners were as follows:
Internationalisation of the Curriculum Award (offered for the first time in 2012) – The Japan Studio program, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Staff awards – Mrs Kayoko Uchiyama, School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts.
Dr Amelia Brown, School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics, Faculty of Arts
Student award – Mr Wayne Wei Yi Chan, UQ Business School
Partner award – Mr Augustine Ullatil from Community Aid Alliance, Bangalore, India. Commendation partner award – International House
Media: Caroline Bird, UQ Communications, 07 3365 1931 or c.bird1@uq.edu.au
Background on the winners:
The Japan Studio
The Japan Studio is a travel abroad architectural design studio program offered to students enrolled in the Master of Architecture. It has been running since 2010 and planning for the Japan Studio 2013 is currently underway.
The Japan Studio was developed by Professor Brit Andresen and is a joint collaboration between Professor Andresen, Doug Neale and Elizabeth Musgrave.
It distinguishes itself in that it is supported by a set of closely prescribed activities structured in three phases and designed to heighten impact and to maximise and embed learning outcomes.
The Japan Studio offers academic staff the opportunity for international collaboration in the design, development and delivery of new course material.
Mrs Kayoko Uchiyama
Mrs Uchiyama received the award for encouraging and promoting overseas student mobility. She has been involved with outbound student mobility at UQ for 24 years.
Mrs Uchiyama has taught Japanese since 1974 and has been an associate lecturer on a continuing basis since 1981.
During this time, she played a significant role in building the University’s exchange program with Japan and encouraging hundreds of students to study in Japan on both short-term programs and the semester/year-long student exchange program, UQ Abroad.
Mrs Uchiyama was also involved in the implementation of the Komstudy program, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2013, and the addition of 17 UQ exchange partners.
Dr Amelia Brown
Dr Brown won the award for demonstrating an intensive commitment to internationalisation through encouraging, promoting and realising overseas student and staff mobility.
In 2010 and 2011, Dr Brown developed and delivered a new short-term international course called the UQ Ancient World Study Tour for 20 UQ students and another staff member.
The course has now become the model for short-term tours within the School at UQ and other schools around Australia.
Mr Wayne Wei Yi Chan
Mr Chan received the award for his strong leadership within the Singaporean community. Mr Chan has chaired the Coffee Appreciation Club, been active in the Singaporean Student Society and actively lobbied the Singaporean High Commission in Canberra and the Overseas Singapore Unit for more activities and greater inclusion of Brisbane-based Singaporean students.
As Chair of the Coffee Appreciation Club, Mr Wei Yi Chan proactively encouraged and facilitated partnership and cooperation between different clubs and societies at UQ, promoting the values of diversity and inclusiveness.
In addition to this, Mr Wei Yi Chan has personally assisted many new Singaporean students transitioning into university life in Brisbane.
Mr Augustine Ullatil
Mr Ullatil is the Program Coordinator for Community Aid Alliance (CAA) and has played an integral role in opening up overseas field placement opportunities for social work and community development students from UQ’s School of Social Work and Human Services.
CAA is a civil society initiative for linking, learning and acting on sustainable alternatives. The school sent its first cohort of social work students to southern India in 2009.
Since then, Mr Ullatil has helped facilitate 19 field placements for social work and community development students.
This international placement provides final year students with a new perspective on practicing social work before graduating and adds to the student’s future employability.
International House
International House received the commendation partner award in recognition for its cross-cultural community engagement model and associated activities.
International House’s Community Engagement Model incorporates the identification and development of links and alliances with other communities including – UQ, Ethic Communities of Queensland, Rotary International, Numerous student clubs, International Houses worldwide and University Colleges Australia. These alliances provide the foundation to collaborate in a number of activities.
