ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ Education Academy has its first class of 2016
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
The University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ will today officially launch its new ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ Education Academy, comprised of academic staff who have chosen to specialise in teaching - the first such academy in an Australian university.
The move is aimed at continuing to transform the teaching and learning experience at the University, for the benefit of both students and staff.
The University will today induct the first 49 of a planned 100 academics into the .
Among the initial members of the Academy are highly regarded teaching staff across each of the University's five Faculties.
"In a research-intensive university, it is a challenge for staff to be recognised as real academics for teaching alone. By establishing the ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ Education Academy, we are saying teaching is a noble career in a university, with its own unique rewards and privileges," says the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Warren Bebbington.
"In particular, we are opening a pathway for staff to be promoted all the way to professor for their teaching alone.
"Among the first members of the Academy are academics who have played an outstanding role in the quality of education at our University for many years. Through its members, the Academy will become a symbol of the University's unique learning and teaching proposition which, to the great benefit of our students, is at the centre of our strategic direction."
New Academy members include Associate Professor Elizabeth Koch OAM, Head of Classical Performance with the Elder Conservatorium of Music, and Associate Professor Colin Kestell from the School of Mechanical Engineering. Both are past winners of the University's long-running Stephen Cole the Elder Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
"The Education Academy is an outstanding initiative to promote teaching, encourage collaboration between staff from different Faculties and develop new curricula an