The development of professional skills is the common theme among the six UTS staff recognised for outstanding contributions to student learning by the Federal Government.
Four UTS nominations – two with joint nominees – last night received citations through the Australian Government's Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Representing four faculties, the Institute for Interactive Media and Learning (IML) and community access gateway UTS Shopfront, the UTS recipients were cited for professionally focused and "real world" approaches to student learning and community engagement.
The UTS citations were:
Chemical Safety and Legislation Team – Dr Alison Beavis (Science) and Ms Neela Griffiths (IML)
For transforming student engagement in the subject Chemical Safety and Legislation: from a hazard to a cross-disciplinary, collaborative success story.
Alison and Neela transformed a rather dry chemistry subject to one which develops real world professional skills, such as the ability to produce a professional case study report on a chemical incident.
Dr Penny Crofts (Law)
For developing authentic, sustained and transformative experiences of "law in action" that inspire students with a passion for justice and integrity.
In Penny's classes students learn about the complexities of law in the real world, and are given opportunities to provide up-to-date legal resources to community organisations in a problem based learning approach.
Ms Joanne Paterson Kinniburgh (Design, Architecture and Building)
For industry-focused innovation in architectural design studio pedagogy and a peer-learning program delivering demonstrable improvements to student learning and student leadership development opportunities.
Joanne developed a peer mentoring approach in the studio which helped students learn the design practices that are used within a professional context. This included developing skills in delivering peer critique, and learning how to respond constructively to critique.
Management Consulting Team – Dr Natalia Nikolova ( Business) and Ms Lisa Andersen (UTS Shopfront)
For an innovative work-integrated learning approach to developing consulting skills and social responsibility of postgraduate business students through engagement with industry and the community sector.
Natalia and Lisa worked together to match groups of postgraduate management students with community groups to offer pro bono consulting services. Alumni continue their support of students and the community projects through a mentoring program.
The Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning are administered by the Office for Learning and Teaching as a component of the annual Australian Awards for University Teaching.
- Six UTS staff have been recognised for outstanding contributions to student learning by the Federal Government
- Four UTS nominations – two with joint nominees – last night received citations through the Australian Government's Australian Awards for University Teaching