UOW at top of class again for student learning

Jul 07, 2006

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, has announced that University of Wollongong (UOW) staff have obtained nine prestigious Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

The awards were made by the national body for teaching and learning in higher education, the Carrick Institute.

“This is the first year that these awards have been made and UOW’s success highlights the University’s excellence in teaching and learning,” according to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Rob Castle.

For the awards, each Australian university was allowed to put forward a maximum of 10 candidates for a pool of 210 awards.

“That nine out of a possible 10 UOW nominations received awards is testament to the University’s excellence in teaching and learning, and the high standards of academic quality,” Professor Castle said.

UOW academics from both the Wollongong Campus and the University of Wollongong in Dubai received awards. Some academics received awards for the leadership that they showed in their field, while others received awards for teaching innovations and ensuring quality learning for students.

”UOW has had a great deal of recognition for its excellence in teaching and learning, and this new success shows that not only is UOW committed to quality teaching and learning as an institution, but that each academic has the strengths to ensure quality teaching outcomes,” Professor Castle said.

Last year UOW was rewarded with $5.108 million in funding for ranking number one in the country for teaching performance. The money was awarded based on DEST's 'Student Outcome Indicators for the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.’ UOW was one of the top five universities in the country to share in $30 million, and outstripped many larger universities to gain the award. The award money was put towards reinforcing the University’s strengths in teaching and learning and supporting innovations to ensure quality teaching and learning in the future.

For these national awards, each academic receives a national citation and $10,000 to be presented at a function in Sydney in August.

The successful staff were:

Professor Stephen Dinham; The Knowledge Building Community Team (Dr Julie Kiggins and Associate Professor Brian Cambourne); Dr Brett Lemass; Professor Roger Lewis; Ms Judith Marychurch; Dr A. Wendy Russell; Associate Professor Gerry Turcotte; Dr Lejla Vrazalic and Ms Moira Williamson.

For further information contact Professor Rob Castle on 4221 3960.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128