Bulletin

Issue: June 2006

News

Awards for helping student learning

Sixteen La Trobe University staff members have won Citations for Outstanding Contributions for Student Learning. The University awards, for sustained effort in supporting student learning, recognised academic, library and general staff.

Citation winners at the presentation
ceremony. Below: Vice-Chancellor
Stoddart presents an award to Mr Greg
Jamieson, Department of Economics
and Finance.

They were presented by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Stoddart, at a recent ceremony on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.

'We had some very high quality applications and, apart from congratulating the winners, I acknowledge all the people who were considered for this award,' Professor Stoddart said.

Awards were made for projects that range from enhancing students' understanding of ethical and professional responsibilities by linking classroom learning with community legal practice to curriculum development that enables non-maths students to build mathematical models for specific applications by using a small core of mathematical concepts.

Professor Stoddart said: 'At a time when the ability to demonstrate excellence has important ramifications, these citations are an important step.

'A prime purpose of universities is to produce new knowledge and research, and we really push that aspect.'

With the transmission of knowledge also changing rapidly though, it means professionalisation of the teaching role is becoming increasingly important.

'This University is continuing to improve its staff promotions system to include greater recognition for teaching talent, and we are working hard to keep abreast of the latest in effective teaching and learning methods and supporting technology.

'While there is a pragmatic reason for universities to concentrate a lot more professionally on what they do in the teaching field, there is also an intellectual and professional edge to it. This will have the impact of making sure we remain a major target for students who are progressively becoming more discriminating over teaching performance.

'We are hoping these awards will become part of a much prized and highly competitive system, which will continue to contribute to the quality of teaching in the University.'

The winners are:

Mr Mark Furlong, Social Work and Social Policy; Ms Mary Anne Noone, Ms Judith Dickson and Ms Elizabeth Curran, Law; Dr Elizabeth Johnson, Biochemistry; Professor Eleanor Wertheim, Psychology; Ms Beverley Forsyth, Mrs Heather Hulett, Ms Susan Porter, Mrs Jill Stokes and Mrs Christine Wanklyn, Library; Dr John Banks and Dr Peter Stacey, Mathematics; Mr Greg Jamieson, Economics and Finance; Ms Carol Merli, English; and Dr Caroline Chanock, Academik Skills Unit.