UNE continues Carrick success

July 09, 2007

Two researchers at the University of New England have attracted almost half a million dollars in funding from the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, bringing the total value of Carrick grants and teaching awards won by UNE staff in the past 18 months to more than $1.1 million.

Dr Belinda Tynan and Dr Robyn Smyth have received grants of $220,000 and $219,808 respectively to lead projects in two related but distinct areas.

Dr Tynan's project aims to create a professional development program for university lecturers across eight Australian universities, while Dr Smyth's grant is intended to encourage the use of "rich media" technologies, such as videoconferencing, in higher education.

The funding applications for both projects were successful against a highly competitive field. Dr Tynan was one of only four successful applicants from a field of 33, while Dr Smyth beat out 24 other applicants to win funding for her project.

Other UNE staff to achieve Carrick success in recent months include Associate Professor Kerry Dunne ($200,000), Professor Stephen Colbran ($200,000) and Professor Helen Ware ($100,000).

"UNE is getting a name for winning these Carrick grants right across the sector," Dr Tynan said. "In fact, there's only one other university alongside us in terms of their success rate."

Dr Tynan put UNE's success down to the university's leadership in innovative teaching techniques and the support of the Teaching and Learning Centre for staff applying for Carrick grants and awards.

It was important that the ideas are put forward were exciting, relevant to the needs of UNE and the sector generally and showed purposeful collaboration with partners, Dr Tynan said.

"People may not realise it, but these grants are just as competitive – and often as lucrative – as ARC grants," she said. "It's really exciting to see UNE winning so many of them."

In addition to funding individual projects at UNE, the Carrick Institute also funded a recent forum on "Collaboration to offer small courses/subjects" that attracted 50 educators from around the country. The forum was convened by Dr Tynan, Dr Smyth and Dr Dunne in association with Dr Elizabeth McDonald, Director of the Carrick grants scheme.

Dr McDonald said she appreciated UNE's keen involvement with the Carrick Institute.

"UNE has been very active in supporting Carrick Institute activities – including the small courses colloquium, which they managed and hosted – and it is great to see their interest and success in receiving grants," Dr McDonald said.

For her part, Dr Tynan said the Carrick Institute's grants, awards and fellowships were "reinvigorating teaching and learning at Australian universities".

"UNE has been a leader in teaching and learning for some time, and it's wonderful to be recognised and rewarded for that," she said.

For more information about this story contact Dr Belinda Tynan on (02) 6773 3196 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6771 2428. A photograph is available to accompany this story.

Posted by Leon Braun at July 9, 2007 10:47 AM