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Six national awards for USC
Six outstanding University of the Sunshine Coast academics have been recognised with national awards for their dedication to student learning in public health and nutrition, nursing, sociology, art and digital design.
The University has repeated last year’s record six awards in the prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) citations, announced today.
Each ALTC Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning is worth $10,000 and puts USC in the national spotlight.
The USC recipients are: Sociology Lecturer Dr Phillip Ablett, Professor in Nursing Margaret McAllister, Lecturer in Public Health Ms Lily O'Hara, Senior Lecturer in Art and Design Dr Lisa Chandler, Lecturer in Digital Design Dr Debra Livingston and Chair of Public Health Nutrition Professor Roger Hughes.
A gala presentation ceremony will be held at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art from 4pm on 3 August.
Describing the outcome as fantastic, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the national scheme was highly competitive.
“USC has received more citations than universities four times its size,” he said.
“To have this level of success two years in a row demonstrates that we are one of the highest profile teaching institutions in the country.”
ALTC Chief Executive Officer Dr Carol Nicoll announced awards for a total of 193 citations valued at more than $2million.
“It is clear from the diversity of this year’s citation winners that staff throughout Australian higher education institutions are dedicated to ensuring their students receive top quality teaching and learning opportunities,” she said.
The individual citations were:
Dr Phillip Ablett – For enlivening social theory to inspire students to become agents of change for a just, democratic and sustainable society;
Professor Margaret McAllister – For the creation and development of Solution Focused Nursing, an innovative and internationally-recognised model for student learning that develops high-level caring skills;
Ms Lily O'Hara – For passionate, enthusiastic and sustained commitment to inspiring and motivating health students to become expert and engaged practitioners;
Dr Lisa Chandler – For sustained design and delivery of innovative, practice-informed, and student-focused curricula that provide a professionally-relevant foundation in art and design practice;
Dr Debra Livingston – For empowering graphic design students by leading innovative and inspiring practicum experiences through integrating regional community and industry-based engagement into their lives and study;
Professor Roger Hughes – For scholarly leadership in the development of nutrition and dietetics curriculum, student learning and graduate outcomes, particularly in the area of public health nutrition.
– Julie Gatehouse