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UNE Centre to help regional maths, science students

June 28, 2004

John-Pegg066.jpgA new National Centre, launched today at the University of New England, will help to ensure that school students throughout regional Australia have every
opportunity to excel in science and mathematics.
The launch of the Centre culminates five years of planning led by UNE’s
Professor John Pegg. The UNE team has worked closely with The Nationals,
whose leader, the Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, announced on Saturday
a three-year Commonwealth Establishment Grant of $4.95 million for the new
Centre. The funds have been made available through the Government’s
“Regional Partnerships” program.

“The primary aim of the National Centre for Maths and Science is to improve
the quality of rural and regional students’ learning in mathematics,
science, and information and communication technology, ” Professor Pegg
said. “Data show that these students perform at a lower level than their
counterparts in large cities. The Centre will address this disadvantage by
encouraging and supporting the professional development of primary,
secondary, and tertiary teachers of these subjects.” Professor Pegg is to be
the Director of the Centre, which starts its operations on July 1.
Professor Ingrid Moses, the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, finalised an agreement
last week with the Commonwealth Government on the establishment of the
Centre within UNE’s Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies.
Professor Moses has been instrumental in negotiating the project with the
Commonwealth. At today’s launch, in congratulating all involved, she thanked
Professor Pegg for his commitment over the five years, and Professor Victor
Minichiello (Dean of UNE’s Faculty of Education, Health and Professional
Studies) for his support of the project. “The commitment of our staff at UNE
to teaching and teacher education is unparalleled,” she said.
Professor Pegg explained that the Centre would build upon and extend the
work of UNE's Centre for Cognition Research in Learning and Teaching. "The
Government was seeking to build on an organisation that already had an
impressive track record of research, and of completing large and difficult
research consultancies," he said.
In making his announcement on Saturday, Mr Anderson said: “The National
Centre will make a real contribution to improving the education and future
security of regional and rural school children and communities.”
Trevor Khan, The Nationals’ candidate for the Federal seat of New England,
and Jim Booth, Chief-of-Staff in the office of Senator Sandy Macdonald,
represented The Nationals at today’s launch. Professor Minichiello said: “I
want to express my appreciation to Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson and
Senator Sandy Macdonald from The Nationals for helping to create a funding
program that recognises the important contributions that rural institutions
such as UNE can play in promoting innovative solutions to address complex
challenges facing rural communities.”
Media contact: Professor Victor Minichiello, Dean, Faculty of Education,
Health and Professional Studies, UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 3952, Dr Debra
Panizzon, School of Education, UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 5061, or Jim Scanlan,
Public Relations, UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 3049.
For photographs, please contact Jim Scanlan on (02) 6773 3049.

Posted by Lydia Roberts at June 28, 2004 03:48 PM