USC to receive $500,000 grant for teaching excellence
The University of the Sunshine Coast is to receive a $500,000 Federal Government grant in recognition of its excellence in learning and teaching for undergraduate students.
USC will be one of four Queensland universities to receive Learning and Teaching Performance Fund 2007 grants which were announced by Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training Julie Bishop on Friday.
Ms Bishop said universities were recognised for their achievements in four key areas: science, computing, engineering, architecture and agriculture; business, law and economics; humanities, arts and education; and health.
USC gained recognition as having performed well in a highly-competitive context.
University of the Sunshine Coast Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said receiving a Learning and Teaching Performance Fund grant was a significant achievement.
"For an institution that’s so young, it’s fantastic that we’re in there," he said. "It’s great that we’re getting funding out of it for the first time.’’
Professor Hill said the announcement showed that the University of the Sunshine Coast was punching well above its weight in terms of quality learning and teaching.
He said USC was yet to decide precisely how the funds would be spent but said they would be invested in new program and teaching initiatives that would improve services to students.