University of Queensland Professor Ian Cameron has won the 2003 Prime Minister’s Australian Award for Individual University Teacher of the Year, and the award in the Physical Sciences and Related Studies category. He is the second consecutive UQ academic to claim the prestigious Prime Minister’s national award.
Professor Cameron of UQ's School of Engineering also became the University’s third winner of the major Australian university individual teaching award in four years.
Associate Professor Peter O’Donoghue of UQ’s School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, was the winner last year, while UQ Professor of Information Systems, Ron Weber, won the Prime Minister’s award in 2000.
Dr Judith Murray of UQ’s School of Population Health was joint winner of this year's Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies category.
Dr Murray is a senior lecturer in the School of Population Health. She is the Director of the University’s Loss and Grief Unit, which she established in 1996.
Federal Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs Dr Brendan Nelson presented Professor Cameron with his trophy at the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) ceremony on Tuesday, December 2 at Parliament House, Canberra.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the dominance of The University of Queensland staff – winning 11 awards in six years – showed UQ to be the national leader in high quality education, with far more finalists and winners than any other Australian university. This year, UQ had finalists in five of the awards.
“The University places great importance on innovative teaching practices that meet the social and intellectual needs of its students,” Professor Hay said.
“Teaching quality is a major contributor to positive outcomes for graduates.
"I congratulate Professor Cameron who has already received UQ`s own award for teaching excellence. Our students are the beneficiaries of his expertise."
The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) in its recent report praised The University of Queensland’s quality processes for monitoring and enhancing teaching and learning of its students.
More than 100 nominations in 11 individual and institutional categories were received for this year‘s awards, which carry $35,000 in prize money for the Prime Minister‘s Award for University of Teacher of the Year, and $40,000 for the winners of each of six categories. Institutional awards carry prizes of $50,000 each.
Professor Cameron is recognised internationally as an inspirational and dedicated teacher and researcher at all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate education.
He won a University of Queensland Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2002.
Other AAUT finalists this year from UQ were:
* Social Sciences – Dr Nan Bahr
Dr Bahr is a lecturer in the University’s School of Education. She has set a new benchmark for the University with her online programs at UQ Ipswich, and has led the rewriting and rebuilding of teacher education programs within the University. She teaches and researches in the area of educational psychology and has published in the areas of educational technologies in higher and schooling contexts. Dr Bahr was awarded a UQ Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000. Dr Bahr has a strong commitment to quality education, and is particularly interested in the rejuvenation of education alongside the development of new technologies with a focus on the key role that teachers and professional educators have in creating and leading effective learning experiences.
* Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Teacher of the Year – Associate Professor Cindy Shannon
Dr Shannon is Head of the Indigenous Health Division in UQ's School of Population Health. With a background in education and management, she has been responsible for the development and implementation of degree level training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers in the past decade. Dr Shannon has been able to influence the inclusion of indigenous health issues in the curriculum in a number of courses within the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. She also acts as a consultant to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in the implementation of the core curriculum module in Aboriginal health and to the Commonwealth Government in its short course on Indigenous Health Policy.
The University also had two finalists in the Institutional section of the awards.
* Innovative and practical approach to team teaching in large, first-year classes – First Year Biology Teaching
The First Year Biology Teaching team coordinates and delivers an innovative biological curriculum to more than 1000 students. The program is a collaborative teaching initiative of the Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, involving three schools and more than 100 staff and student leaders. The team encompasses a collaborative teaching approach transcending traditional discipline boundaries and encouraging teamwork among molecular and evolutionary biologists, human physiologists and anatomists, ecologists, botanists, biochemists and zoologists. The central theme of the program is genetics and evolution, a new direction designed to reflect the unprecedented changes on DNA technology taking place in life sciences and medicine. Three core activities have driven the program: developing a coherent curriculum, building a collegial teaching team and creating a supportive learning environment for students.
* Innovative and practical approach to the provision of education services to the local and/or regional community category – Graduate Certificate in Social Science (Interprofessional Leadership)
The 'Boilerhouse’ Community Service and Research Centre at UQ Ipswich is an integral part of the University’s Community Engagement Strategy. The submission focuses on the establishment and delivery of the Centre’s Community and Inter Professional Leadership teaching and learning program courses which aim to improve the quality of life of the local community and the quality of university teaching, learning and research. The Goodna Service Integration Project (Goodna SIP) was created to respond to complex issues faced by the Goodna community. The Graduate Certificate in Social Science (Interprofessional Leadership) was the first accredited learning program initiated through the Goodna SIP. The students learn the theoretical groundwork and practical skills for initiating and sustaining collaborative work and work on a real issue in the Goodna/Ipswich region which requires an interdisciplinary approach. They are supported and guided by the university teaching staff, practical professionals and community representatives.
Media: for further information contact Jan King at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 1120).
