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USC earns six prestigious national awards
The University of the Sunshine Coast has gained national recognition for its quality academics and for its special programs that help school students reach university, feel at home once they arrive, and study overseas on exchange.
USC yesterday attained an unprecedented six Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) citations, three times as many as in previous years. Each of the prestigious awards announced today is worth $10,000.
Academics from each of USC’s three Faculties – Dr Ann Parkinson from Science, Health and Education, Anna Potter of Arts and Social Sciences, and Dr Monte Wynder from Business – will receive citations for their academic excellence at a gala ceremony in Brisbane on August 18.
With them will be several USC administrative, professional and technical staff: Kylie Russell and Tegan McFarland who coordinate USC’s Headstart program for Year 11 and 12 students; Margot Reeh who runs the University’s student-to-student mentoring program; and Global Opportunities student exchange program co-ordinator Liani Eckard.
USC Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said it was particularly gratifying to see staff from such a broad cross-section of the University rewarded in this way.
“Over the previous three years, we have received five citations in total,” he said. “To reach the level of success attained this year is a real testament to the quality of our staff, the programs they put in place and USC’s focus on a quality education for our students.”
The USC citations are among 206 that have been awarded by the Australian Government to individuals and teams across the nation.
ALTC Executive Director Professor Richard Johnstone said the citations highlighted the tremendous commitment in the higher education sector to improving the student experience.
“The quality and quantity of applications received represent the incredible effort made by university staff Australia-wide to contribute to a positive learning experience for every student,” Professor Johnstone said.
“Recipients are drawn from a broad range of disciplines and can be found working throughout the institutions as citations recognise the work of everyone with a role in enhancing student learning.”
The individual citations were:
Dr Ann Parkinson – For improving the learning outcomes for foundation students in biology and physiology through innovative pedagogies and resources.
Anna Potter – For excellence in curriculum design, assessment practice and academic leadership that supports and motivates students to learn in a large, first-year foundation course.
Dr Monte Wynder – For sustained enthusiasm in curricula development and delivery that models and generates creative problem solving to prepare flexible and innovative accounting graduates.
Liani Eckard – For enhancing the cultural engagement, personal development and employment opportunities of students through a leading Global Opportunities Program.
Margot Reeh – For developing university-wide, student-to-student mentor and advising programs that enhance the university experience of beginning students and benefit the student leaders personally professionally.
The Headstart Program – For enhancing Year 11 and 12 students' development as individuals and as learners, through immersion in University courses across all Faculties.
— Terry Walsh