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New students tune up for the road ahead

January 25, 2006

Tune.thumb.jpgPeople from throughout eastern Australia are at The University of New England this week taking part in an award-winning program that prepares new students for the academic tasks ahead.

The "tUNEup" program focuses on writing and information-technology skills, but covers a range of other skills needed by students starting university study (particularly those re-entering the education system after an absence of some years).

The week-long program is run over three successive weeks: the first two courses are for people studying by distance education, and the third course (beginning on Monday 6 February) is for on-campus students. Today – three days into the first course – students were enthusiastic, with comments including “fantastic” and “really helpful”.

“Many of the participants already have relevant skills that they have developed at work and at home,” said the course coordinator, Frances Quinn. “Now it’s a matter of applying those skills to university study.” Apart from academic writing and IT skills, the program covers study skills such as listening and note-taking, reading and research, managing anxiety, concentration and memory, using the library, and online learning. Staff members from UNE’s Teaching and Learning Centre, Dixson Library, Information Technology Directorate and Counselling and Careers Service are involved in presenting the courses.

“The program is now in its sixth year,” Ms Quinn said. “This year there is greater-than-ever emphasis on online learning procedures, such as the use of electronic bulletin boards. Communication and research tools such as these have become indispensable to students.”

The "tUNEup" program, developed in consultation with staff and students throughout the Armidale campus, won for UNE an Australian Award for University Teaching in 2002. Its use of CD-ROM is complemented by its availability in print (four booklets) and on audiotape, making it accessible to everyone, not just those attending the course.

"tUNEup" is one way in which UNE enables new and prospective students to become familiar with the University campus and student life. Another is the organised campus tours that, so far this summer, have enabled more than 500 prospective students to get a close-up view of UNE’s academic, sporting and residential facilities. (Demand for places in the residential colleges – an important part of UNE’s unique living-and-learning environment – is always strong, but a limited number of places are still available for 2006.)


THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows "tUNEup" participant Kael Veenstra of Byron Bay (centre) with UNE's Frances Quinn (the course coordinator) and Stephen Cenatiempo (Operations Manager of the UNE Students' Association, which provided a "tUNEup" barbecue).

Media contact: Frances Quinn, Academic Skills Office, UNE (02) 6773 2270 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at January 25, 2006 04:06 PM