Supportive Interactive Learning and High Quality Teaching
"When I came to Armidale to study at The University of New England I found it a breath of fresh air compared to the rushed pace, pollution and cost of living in a metropolitan area."
Ehsan Tavakkoli - Iran
An important part of UNE ’s high quality academic experience is its commitment to teaching and learning. With one of the lowest staff-to-student ratios among Australian universities, UNE provides opportunities for students to interact more easily with classmates and academic staff promoting discussion and effective learning. Having such close interaction develops students’ deeper understanding of their areas of study, while building strong peer support attitudes. Smaller class sizes also mean that students are not just numbers at UNE – many international students really appreciate that lecturers and academic staff know their names!
UNE offers extensive library facilities to students, staff and academics. Dixson Library is the central library on the UNE campus. It consists of four floors and has over 36 kilometres of shelving, providing space for more than one million print volumes. The ground floor of Dixson was fully re-furbished in 2008 as a ‘Learning Commons’. Designed to meet student needs, the Learning Commons offers the latest facilities for both private study and collaborative learning.
At the Commons students can consult with support personnel including learning and careers advisors, counsellors, librarians and IT specialists. Students have access to purpose-built learning spaces including a dedicated training lab, media rooms, a podcasting studio, study rooms and classrooms for problem-based learning (PBL). With 55 computers workstations, high-speed internet and wireless connections, recording equipment, scanners, printers, copiers and microfilm/microfiche readers; the Learning Commons has everything students need!
The university campus has a wide variety of teaching spaces, from fully equipped lecture theatres and tutorial rooms to scientific laboratories, green houses, education classrooms, computer laboratories, agricultural properties and a moot court room. Technology and computer literacy are integrated into learning outcomes across the UNE campus. Many courses and units now have online components, and introduce students to evolving methods of teaching and learning using contemporary technological resources.
The Australian Government continues to recognise UNE’s high achievements in teaching and learning through the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund and has rewarded UNE with significant funding over the past five years; these awards are assessed on employment outcomes for students, student progress and overall student satisfaction with UNE. Students access world-class and innovative learning experiences, whether on-campus or studying via distance education. Study programs are informed by scholarly practice, continually renewed and taught by highly committed and skilled staff who enjoy their teaching and are supported by efficient systems and processes.
Employment and Lifelong Learning
UNE recognises that employers look for certain qualities in future employees, and to that end, we strive to equip our graduates with the necessary attributes to prepare them for a dynamic world. We also u n d e r s t a n d that graduates need to be well prepared for work in their chosen field, and need to possess the skills to adapt to new challenges and continue lifelong learning. UNE boasts strong employment rates for international graduates. Not only is there a high graduate employment rate, students also consistently rate their UNE experience very highly – a reflection of the University’s commitment to student support and excellent academic standards.