UNE welcomes its new Vice-Chancellor

February 28, 2006

Staff of The University of New England welcomed their new Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Alan Pettigrew, yesterday at a reception hosted by the University’s Chancellor, Mr John Cassidy.

The reception, ending Professor Pettigrew’s first day in the position, followed a meeting of the University’s Council during which the new Vice-Chancellor outlined his vision for UNE.
In welcoming Professor Pettigrew to the University, Mr Cassidy said that his appointment had been a unanimous decision of the UNE Council following a world-wide recruitment exercise that had attracted 67 applicants.

He outlined Professor Pettigrew’s qualifications and experience – including a distinguished research career in physiology, senior executive positions at the Universities of Sydney, Queensland, and New South Wales and, most recently, his term as inaugural CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council – that had recommended him so strongly to the UNE Council.

Mr Cassidy said Professor Pettigrew’s outstanding background in research and senior management would assist him in guiding UNE through a period of increasingly insistent “financial imperatives” for universities.

He also welcomed Professor Pettigrew’s wife, Mrs Ann Pettigrew, saying that she would have “a vital and beneficial impact on UNE and the wider community” – particularly through her love of art and music.

Richard Torbay, Member for Northern Tablelands, welcomed Professor and Mrs Pettigrew to the Armidale and New England communities. Mr Torbay, a member of the UNE Council, said Professor Pettigrew’s contribution to the Council meeting had shown that he had “a very strong vision for the University”. He urged everyone to work together to realise that vision.

Professor Pettigrew replied to the welcome by observing that the history of UNE was “underpinned by a great deal of passion – and a high level of enthusiasm – for education in the New England region”. “We can build on that,” he continued, emphasising that the University community included all students and staff in “an integrated whole”.

While there were “strategic challenges” ahead, he said, there were also “emerging opportunities” – particularly Federal Government initiatives targeting research quality and collaboration – that the University was well placed to take advantage of. He added that UNE was known for its world-quality research, including research generated by its involvement in seven national Cooperative Research Centres.

“It’s a great pleasure for Ann and I to join this institution,” Professor Pettigrew said.

The photograph displayed here shows Mr Cassidy (left) with Professor and Mrs Pettigrew at the reception.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:29 PM

Liaison officers bridge gap between schools, uni

February 27, 2006

Don't be alarmed if you see a car driving around with University of New England plates that looks as if it's been attacked with a spray can. The bold new look is designed to draw attention to UNE's highly successful Schools Liaison program, which aims to help young people bridge the gap between school and university.

The program, which has been running since January 2001, employs three Schools Liaison Officers (SLOs) to visit high schools, attend careers fairs and run parents' information sessions. The purpose of the program is to inform young people about their options when considering university study, and to promote UNE's “unique living and learning lifestyle”.

“We're on the road nine months of the year, from mid-February to late September,” SLO Brian See says. “Our target area goes north to the Queensland border, west to Dubbo and as far south as Wollongong. On top of that we attend careers markets in nearly all the capital cities.”

It's a job that involves explaining the merits of studying at a regional campus to kids who may not be able to find Armidale on a map.

“The further you get from Armidale, the less likely they are to know much about us. But once they hear we're the oldest regional university in Australia, they tend to become very interested,” Mr See says.

“It helps that many teachers and careers advisers out in the schools did their degrees here. They can cross-promote for us, and talk about their own experiences as well.”

A good SLO needs to be able to relate to a wide range of people, including school principals, parents and students. It's particularly important to be able to talk to teenagers on their own level, Mr See says.

“Sometimes you have to work hard to decipher their questions. Often they're not too sure themselves of what they want to know, and they mightn't know much about the actual process of applying to go to uni. That's where we can help them, by making available our expert knowledge on the way the whole university system works, and telling them what they have to do to get here.”

The latest weapons in the SLOs' armoury are three brightly coloured Holden Crewman utes, painted in graffiti style to promote UNE and show where Armidale is on a map of Australia. The cars have proven to be a highly effective marketing device, according to Mr See.

“We felt that since we were driving around all the time, we might as well get noticed,” he says, “so we turned the cars into moving billboards. They're getting a lot of attention. Students and people from other universities have come up to us and told us how much they like them.”

“It's great to pull into a town and everyone can see right away what we do and where we're from.”

For more information about the Schools Liaison program contact Brian See on (02) 6773 3498 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Posted by Leon Braun at 03:58 PM

UNE researchers aim to ease distress of tinnitus

February 27, 2006

Psychologists at The University of New England are developing new ways of helping sufferers cope with the common condition of tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

They believe that the most effective treatments for discomfort or distress caused by this chronic condition will involve helping people to adapt to it.

“It’s usually not possible to get rid of the internal noise,” explained UNE researcher Caroline Croft. “For some people, current treatments may maintain a struggle against the noise; that’s not good, because they can then become more and more sensitised to it. Our aim is to improve our understanding of how people can – and do – learn to live with it.”

Tinnitus affects about 15 per cent of the population, and between one and two per cent of those people suffer severely from it. “It can affect people’s sleep, work, and social lives,” Ms Croft said. “Some sufferers get so distressed they become suicidal.”

She pointed out that the degree of distress caused by tinnitus seems to be related more to psychological factors than to the severity of the symptom itself. “We can match the pitch, type of sound, and loudness of the noises people hear,” she said, “and we find that there is no correlation between those measurements and the distress they are suffering. Some people experience very loud noise, but say it doesn’t really bother them.”

Those who suffer most, she said, get into a “feedback loop”, in which their discomfort or distress causes them to be increasingly aware of – and, therefore, increasingly distressed by – the noise. “We’re developing techniques that will help them to break that loop,” she continued.

The UNE researchers – Ms Croft, Professor Bill Noble, and Dr Rhonda Brown – have begun a survey of people with tinnitus. The survey will provide them with a wealth of information on how people experience the condition, and the factors that help or hinder them in coping with it. “We want to hear from people who are not distressed by their tinnitus, as well as those who are,” Ms Croft explained. “In this way, we’ll be able to track the stages that people go through in learning to live with it.” The team is hoping to involve about 500 people in the survey; those interested in participating (or anyone who would like information sent to them or to someone they know who suffers from tinnitus) should phone Ms Croft on (02) 6773 5017 or e-mail her at: cruming2@une.edu.au.

The survey will enable the researchers to test their hypotheses about the key factors involved in distress from – and adaptation to – the condition. The results could help doctors, audiologists and psychologists in identifying those patients who are likely to suffer most severely. Ultimately, the researchers hope to be able to carry out trials of new treatment procedures they develop with the help of the survey information.

The photograph of the tinnitus research team displayed here, showing (from left) Ms Caroline Croft, Professor Bill Noble and Dr Rhonda Brown, is available at:
http://photodatabase.une.edu.au/albums/incoming/2006/MISCELLANEOUS/Tinnitus%20research.jpg

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 12:04 PM

Book tells Indonesian researchers how to get their work published

February 23, 2006

A lecturer in Indonesian at The University of New England has published a book that will help Indonesian researchers gain a higher profile in scholarly international journals.

Zifirdaus Adnan (pictured here) has made a detailed study of the style and structure of English-language research papers, and has developed strategies that will help Indonesian authors conform to those patterns when writing in English for international journals.

The book, "Merebut Hati Audiens Internasional" ("Winning an International Audience"), written by Mr Adnan in collaboration with Mrs Indrawati Zifirdaus from Curtin University in Perth, is the first of its kind in Indonesian. Its publication is in response to an acute need among Indonesian academics, who are finding that the time and money they spend on research projects are not matched by publication outcomes. Mr Adnan said researchers had been coming under increasing criticism from the Indonesian Department of Higher Education for this reason.

He explained that the problem was "more one of structure than of language". "While the editors of English-language journals are fairly tolerant of deficiencies in grammar and spelling," he said, "they do require authors to demonstrate clearly - through the structure and content of their papers - that their research results represent an important new contribution to work in the field. In the international (English) academic tradition, this usually involves a critical review of relevant previous studies."

Mr Adnan’s research has shown that Indonesian authors often fail to meet this requirement. He believes the reasons for this are partly cultural – including a reluctance to identify deficiencies in earlier research. "One author actually told me he thought it was unethical to criticise the work of a more senior academic," he said. "Related to this is a commonly-held belief among academics that such criticism could backfire on them."

"These attitudes specific to academics can be seen in the context of a national literary culture that is still in the process of transition from ‘oral’ to ‘written’," he continued.

Using a wide range of examples, the new book follows the publication process through from the writing of a well-structured article to making final amendments based on referees’ comments. Published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama (one of Indonesia’s main publishing companies), it was launched late last year during a national conference on English studies at Atma Jaya University in Jakarta.

Mr Adnan, a specialist in patterns of academic writing, based his book on a study of 63 articles by researchers in the disciplines of Education, Linguistics, and Sociology / Political Science. In addition, he interviewed three of the authors in each discipline, and the editors of several Indonesian and international journals. The research also forms the basis of his PhD thesis, submitted for examination earlier this year.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:11 PM

Student leaders hone their skills

February 22, 2006

A group of 83 college students from The University of New England has completed a leadership program to prepare them for their new role as Resident Fellows.

The group, which included students from all the colleges and Wright Village, completed a week-long program of lectures, group presentations and role plays. They heard talks from a number of guest speakers, including Dr Kypros Kypri, who spoke on the negative effects of alcohol on student's health and academic performance, and Chris Street, an expert on cross-cultural communication.

Resident Fellows (or Resident Assistants, as they are also known) are responsible for supporting and advising their fellow students, and for various administrative and disciplinary functions within the university residences. They also play a key role in the orientation of new students to the campus.

Resident Fellows have to be on duty “practically 24 hours a day”, since students come to them with problems at any time of the day or night, according to Vlad Ruttley-Wolf, a Resident Fellow in Drummond and Smith College and a fresh graduate of the leadership program. He said three to four hours of every day were spent carrying out the duties of his role, “even if it's just talking to someone in the corridor”.

“It's basically about being a nice guy,” he said.

“You have to be able to empathise with people, and to understand where they're coming from. It's about giving people suggestions, and asking them if they want to try certain things [to help them with their problem]. It's not about telling them what to do.”

He said the sessions on cross-cultural communication were especially educational.

“The speaker, Chris Street, came in and just started speaking in Spanish. We had no idea what was going on, and it made you realise what it's like for someone who doesn't speak English. It really made you think, because that's a common prejudice a lot of people have.”

As well as listening to guest speakers, the student leaders learned about the duty of care they have to their fellow students, the roles of the NSW police and campus security managers, and topics related to student health and well-being.

The program coordinator, Nick Hanson, said its real value lay in the practical nature of the lessons the students received.

“The workshop nature of the program meant that all the residential leaders had the opportunity to have a hands-on role, and not just sit back listening to lectures,” he said.

For more information contact Nick Hanson on (02) 6773 1011 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Pictured: Sheri Carolan (Austin College), Kim Glover (UNE Counselling and Careers), Peter Savage (St Alberts College).

Posted by Leon Braun at 02:57 PM

UNE lecturers assist East Timorese

February 21, 2006

The people of East Timor are still rebuilding their lives after the end of Indonesian rule in 1999 and many of them see university education as a ticket to a better life, according to a University of New England lecturer who has just returned from a teaching trip to Dili.

Education lecturer Greg Carroll and colleagues Glenda Kupczyk-Romanczuk and Laurence Tamatea spent two weeks at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL), assisting their Timorese counterparts in curriculum development and collecting material for research into education in post-colonial and post-conflict settings.

Dr Carroll was shocked to find that many of the buildings in Dili were still burnt-out shells, six years after Indonesian-backed militia withdrew, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Dr Carroll was also deeply affected by the stories of some of the people he met, including the matter-of-fact description by one student of the massacre of his family and destruction of his home.

Against this backdrop of devastation, Dr Carroll said he was inspired by the determination of the East Timorese students and staff to rebuild and carry on.

“They've got so little, yet they display an amazing amount of energy and enthusiasm,” he said.

A lecturer at the National University of Timor-Leste earns as little as US$50 per month. Books in the university library are housed in the open tropical air and in one literature class 43 students shared a single book, Dr Carroll said.

He said the people of East Timor placed an enormous value on education and young people had been clamouring to go to university since the country voted for independence in 1999.

“People see education as a way to improve themselves and their nation,” he said. “Some also see it as a ticket out.”

UNTL requested UNE's assistance on the basis of a memorandum of understanding signed by the two universities in 2003. A number of staff from UNE are involved in research and community development in East Timor, including Rebecca Spence, who is working on friendship agreements, and Bob Boughton, who is working on non-formal education. Several staff members from UNTL are UNE graduates, and Dr Carroll said UNE was viewed very favourably by the Timorese.

“Lots of people in positions of power in Timor-Leste know UNE and have a lot of appreciation for the work we do,” Dr Carroll said. “We were greeted very warmly and given support and access across the board.”

For more information contact Dr Greg Carroll on (02) 6773 4230 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Pictured: UNE lecturer Glenda Kupczyk-Romanczuk; UNTL Dean of the Faculty of Education and Science Miguel Maia dos Santos; UNTL Head of English Department Julio Sarmento Lopes; UNE lecturer Greg Carroll; former UNE graduate and UNTL faculty member Sancho da Costa Patricio.

Posted by Leon Braun at 01:37 PM

Travelling scholarship gives wings to students of ancient Greece

February 20, 2006

Nikos Vournazos, who migrated to Australia after serving in the Greek National Resistance during the Second World War, is passionate about education in and about Greece.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of New England at the age of 78, Mr Vournazos (pictured here) is now the donor of a UNE Travelling Scholarship in Classics and Ancient History. He has also established a number of prizes for high-school students in his native Peloponnese, and has provided funds for building projects at the village school that he attended as a child.

His graduation from UNE in October, 2002, was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. In Greece, after the War, he completed high school by correspondence at the age of 27 and, in 1951, gained entry to Pantion University. He was unable, because of financial hardship, to take up university studies at that time, and was drafted into the Greek Army the following year. It was not until half a century later, in the faraway country of Australia (where he migrated in 1955), that his dream of a university degree was realised.

Greg Horsley, UNE’s Professor of Classics and Ancient History, said that Mr Vournazos, after achieving his own educational goals through UNE, now wanted to help other students along the same path. “Niko had been a supporter of Classics at UNE in various ways,” Professor Horsley said. “When he asked me about the options for continuing that support, and I suggested a travelling scholarship, he thought the idea was just right.”

The Nikos Vournazos Travelling Scholarship provides the airfare for a postgraduate student to travel to Greece for fieldwork and research. Its inaugural recipient, in 2005, was Graeme Bourke, who is conducting research for a PhD thesis on the ancient Greek city-state of Elis in the western Peloponnese. Mr Bourke spent nine weeks in Greece, visiting Elis and other historic sites, conducting research in the libraries of the British and American Schools in Athens, and staying in an apartment owned by Mr Vournazos near the Peloponnesian town of Akrata.

“The scholarship enabled me to access otherwise unavailable resources,” Mr Bourke said, “and to experience the topography first-hand. Nick (who travels regularly to Greece from his home in Melbourne) took me around to some of the places I needed to see. He was also proud to show me the places where he had fought with the National Resistance during the Second World War.”

Mr Bourke is to return to Greece in October this year with the help of a second Nikos Vournazos Travelling Scholarship.

In 2005 Nikos Vournazos published his autobiography, "Dancing Solo: A Life in Two Lands". The book fulfils another long-held ambition – to record his experiences in living through a tumultuous period of world history. It begins with his birth in a small village overlooking the Corinthian Gulf, chronicles his wartime experiences, gives details of his leading involvement in the Greek community of Melbourne and Victoria, and ends with his graduation from UNE after some years of part-time external study. The final sentences of "Dancing Solo" encapsulate both his life story and his philosophy: “Life is generous. It provides all things, good and bad. Happy are those who know how to best utilise this bounty.”

Mr Vournazos is enrolled at UNE again this year for further external study through the University’s School of Classics, History and Religion.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:14 PM

Young scientists practise their communication skills

February 17, 2006

Postgraduate students in a wide range of science disciplines at The University of New England have gained valuable experience in the organisation of - and participation in - a scientific conference.

They staged a Postgraduate Conference last week in UNE's School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences.

The full-day event, on Friday 10 February, included research papers delivered by 14 students, and 16 poster presentations. The presenters came from disciplines within the School as diverse as chemistry, physics, human biology, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology.

About 60 people - mainly postgraduate students and staff of the School - attended the conference. Kathleen Mullen, the PhD student who organised the event, said it had been "a great opportunity for our students to present their research and gain feedback from staff in a friendly environment". Ms Mullen pointed out that it was important for young scientists to develop the skills involved in presenting conference papers. "The more opportunities we're given to practise our presenting skills, the better-equipped we'll be when we present at national or international conferences," she said. Many of the presenters felt that having to speak within the strictly-enforced time limits of a conference timetable had been a particularly useful exercise.

The participants were both on-campus and external students at all stages of their postgraduate programs. The guest speaker for the day was Dr Martin Johnston from Flinders University, who completed his PhD studies at UNE in 1993.

Ms Mullen said that last week's conference had been the first of its kind within the School, and that most of the participants would like to see it become an annual event. She herself won one of the three prizes for "best talk". Her discipline is chemistry, and she spoke about a new approach to the development of tiny, "molecular-sized" mechanical devices. The two other prize-winners in this category were Joshua Boyd (Physics, UNE) and Brad Hine (CSIRO). The four prizes for "best poster" went to Linda Agnew, Samiya Al-Jaaidi, Michael Chen and Joshua Smith. The judges commented on the high quality of all the presentations at the conference, and the difficulty they had had in choosing the prize-winners.

"It's been a solid day's conferencing," said Professor Stephen Glover (Chemistry, UNE) at the end of the day, congratulating Ms Mullen on the smooth running of the conference and remarking on the high standard of the presentations.

Funding for the day came from the New England Section of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, as well as from the Head of School, the Dean of the Faculty of The Sciences, and the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) at UNE.

Media contact: Kathleen Mullen, Chemistry, UNE (02) 6773 2382 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here, showing Kathleen Mullen with Dr Martin Johnston during the conference, is at:
http://photodatabase.une.edu.au/albums/incoming/2006/EVENTS/Postgrad%20Research%2006/Postgrad%20research6.JPG

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:20 AM

“Freshers” get support from peers

February 16, 2006

New students arriving at The University of New England are being shown the ropes by senior peers, as part of the tUNEin Peer Support Program, which aims to make the transition to university life easier.

The program is especially aimed at students living in town, who do not always have access to the same pastoral support and encouragement as their college counterparts. This support is particulary vital during “O-Week” when students take such important steps as enrolling and signing up for tutorials.

The Peer Support Program, now in its third year, is run by the university's Academic Skills Office. Program coordinator Ingrid Wijeyewardene said the main aim of the program was to provide new students with someone who could direct them to appropriate support services, such as careers and counselling, equity and academic advice. Peer supporters also act as guides, helping “freshers” to find their way around the campus.

“I have heard in the past of town students sometimes ending up standing by themselves, crying, with no idea what was going on or where they had to go,” Ms Wijeyewardene said.

“We're trying to make sure that doesn't happen, by pairing them with someone who has been through starting at university before and knows what it's like and can offer them advice.”

A total of 110 town students attended a meet-and-greet session on Monday (February 13), where they were welcomed by 43 peer supporters. A highlight of the morning's session was the drawing of two $50 vouchers donated by United Campus Bookshops. Participants in the program also received free movie tickets, courtesy of the Belgrave Twin Cinema. Most, however, were there simply for the satisfaction of helping their fellow students.

Peer supporter Martin Collins said the program was a “fantastic opportunity to capture new students' enthusiasm in the early stages of starting at uni, and use it to help keep them on track.”

“As a peer supporter you're constantly reminding them why they're here and helping them get what they want out of uni, and keeping them motivated.”

Mr Collins said an important part of the peer supporter's role was helping new students connect with their lecturers and tutors, something he believes helps prevent them dropping out.

“We try to encourage them to meet with their lecturers to discuss any issues, and to avail themselves of the academic support that's available,” he said. “If you can keep them doing well academically, and make them aware of those support structures, then they're much less likely to drop out when they hit a snag.”

For more information contact Ingrid Wijeyewardene on (02) 6773 5189 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Pictured: Peer supporter Sophia Waters, winner of a $50 book voucher, with United Campus Bookshops Manager Chris Hietbrink.

Posted by Leon Braun at 02:16 PM

Book sees new media as enriching children's literature

February 15, 2006

A Professor of Education from The University of New England has written a book that will help teachers in the 21st century to use children's fascination with the Internet and computer games to enrich their experience of children's literature.

Len Unsworth, Professor in English and Literacies Education at UNE, said his research in the classroom had shown him that, for today's children, "traditional literacy based on books, and literacy based on electronic media, are seamlessly merged".

"It is crucial that schooling acknowledge the continuum of traditional and multimedia narratives that now make up the story worlds of our children," he explained. Professor Unsworth was speaking yesterday at the launch of his book, "E-literature for Children: Enhancing digital literacy learning", in UNE's Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies.

The new Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, launched "E-literature for Children", placing the book within the context of the rapid, worldwide expansion of communication technology, and praising it for its combination of original research, comprehensive scholarship, and practical examples for teachers. He emphasised the breadth of the book's potential application - including even distance education programs at UNE. The book launch was an opportunity for Professor Pettigrew, who officially takes up the position of Vice-Chancellor on February 27, to meet members of the Faculty and the wider University community.

Professor Unsworth gave an example of multimedia literacy from his own family circle, saying: "My granddaughter, who has just started school, happily reads her favourite picture books - currently the 'Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy' series, delights in the ABC's DVD of the stories, and will no doubt soon extend her 'Hairy Maclary' story world to the famous scruffy dog's Web sites and those of his inventor, Lynley Dodd."

He thanked his colleagues in the Faculty - and particularly the Executive Dean, Professor Victor Minichiello - for their advice and encouragement "to move forward in new directions". Professor Unsworth's previous publications include "Teaching Multiliteracies Across the Curriculum" (Open University Press, UK, 2001) and (with co-authors Angela Thomas, Alyson Simpson and Jenny Asha) "Teaching Chindren's Literature with Information and Communication Technologies" (Open University Press, UK, 2005). "E-literature for Children" is published by Routledge in London and New York.

UNE's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor Peter Flood, while introducing Professor Pettigrew, acknowledged the substantial research effort of the Faculty over the past year, and remarked that yesterday's event was yet another opportunity to highlight the quality of that research and scholarship. Both he and Professor Unsworth mentioned the current establishment of a new research centre at UNE - the Centre for Research in English and Multiliteracies Education. The aim of this Centre will be "to enhance the quality of education by further developing a multiliteracies perspective in English teaching and in all curriculum areas in primary and secondary schools". From October 2006 the Centre will take over the editorship of the Australian Journal of Language and Literacy.

Media contact: Professor Len Unsworth, School of Education, UNE (02) 6773 2677 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here, showing Professor Alan Pettigrew (left) and Professor Len Unsworth at the book launch, is at:
http://photodatabase.une.edu.au/albums/incoming/2006/Book%20Launches/e%20literature.JPG

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:39 PM

UNE welcomes new members of its international 'family'

February 14, 2006

Students arriving from overseas to begin study at The University of New England have been given a comprehensive introduction to the University – and to Armidale.

About 70 new overseas students took part in UNE’s International Orientation program last week (Tuesday 7 – Friday 10 February). They have come from many parts of the world, including China, India, Germany, Hong Kong, Bhutan, the United States, Japan, Sri Lanka, France, Indonesia, Canada, Tuvalu, and The Seychelles.

UNE’s English Language and International Services (ELIS) office organised the four-day program. Dr Vernon Crew, the Director of ELIS, launched proceedings by welcoming the students to the University.

Dr Crew urged the students to become involved in some of the wide range of cultural and sporting activities available in Armidale, to mix socially with Australians and people from other cultures, and to practise English conversation whenever possible. “You’ve got a marvellous experience ahead of you,” he said – “the experience of everything that another culture has to offer.”

He explained that International Services at UNE could help them with everything from academic matters and accommodation to visa problems and shopping. (Dr Crew is pictured here with Toshihiro Niwa, left, and Yukari Kowarada - both from Japan - at the welcome to international students.)

Harsha Karath, a postgraduate student from Bangalore in India, acted as a group leader for this year’s International Orientation program. Studying towards a Graduate Diploma in Financial Management, he has been at UNE for almost two years, and has another semester to go before completing his studies. He says his UNE experience has been “fantastic”, and has given him the chance “to interact with local people”. “At a city university I’d have been socialising mainly with other Indians,” he pointed out. “UNE has given me the Australian experience.”

“I’ve made some excellent friends here,” he continued. “With every passing day I’m liking Armidale more and more.”

Orientation activities last week included talks by UNE professors, enrolment and course advice, a visit to the UNE Postgraduate Association (UNEPA) for a welcome to postgraduate students, a session titled “Visas, Overseas Student Health Cover and You”, a tour of Armidale, and a barbecue lunch at Dumaresq Dam.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:21 PM

New students receive warm welcome as Orientation begins

February 13, 2006

New students at The University of New England received a warm welcome today – the first day of this year’s Orientation activities at the University.

UNE’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), Professor David Rich, speaking on behalf of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robin Pollard, welcomed the students, wishing them success in their studies and a fulfilling experience of university life.

Professor Rich pointed out that UNE had recently been ranked among the seven best universities in Australia for teaching performance, and that this teaching excellence was supplemented by outstanding facilities – such as the residential colleges and Sport UNE – that enabled the University to provide a complete (and unique) educational experience.

The Executive Director of Sport UNE, Mr Stephen Griffith, took up this theme in urging the students to “get active, get involved, and enjoy the total learning experience that UNE provides”. Mr Griffith was speaking on behalf of all the organisations – including Services UNE and the UNE Postgraduate Association as well as Sport UNE – that provide a wide range of services for students on the University campus.

The University is expecting about 1,000 new on-campus students to enrol in undergraduate degree programs later this week, bringing the total number of students enrolled at UNE (undergraduate and postgraduate, on-campus and external) to well over 16,000 by early next week.

This week’s Orientation program includes course advice, tours of the Dixson Library, Law Library. Information Technology Building and Sport UNE, library training sessions, an information session for parents and friends, talks from the Executive Deans of all four Faculties, information on a wide range of extra-curricular activities, bus tours of the University campus and the city of Armidale, and a “Freshers’ Bash” in the Services UNE Bistro.

A new aspect of the Orientation program this year is that the Thursday and Friday will be devoted to a compulsory program of lectures in which new students will receive important information on their courses of study. Orientation organisers say this division of the week emphasises the balance between academic work and extra-curricular activities that students should aim for.

The photograph displayed here shows Allira Preece (left) of Bonny Hills and Chloe Herric of Singleton. They are both enrolling in Bachelor of Arts degree programs, and will be staying at Drummond and Smith College.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:24 PM

Agreement assures student services at UNE

February 10, 2006

Agreements signed yesterday at The University of New England will ensure that students arriving on campus for the beginning of the academic year will have access to services formerly provided by the UNE Students’ Association (UNESA). These include the second-hand bookshop, the radio station TUNE! FM, the Breather (students’ lounge), and accommodation, employment, taxation and legal advice.

UNESA has transferred all its student services to Services UNE Ltd, the company that operates restaurant, cafeteria and retail businesses on campus and the Belgrave Twin Cinema in town. (Services UNE is a controlled entity of the University.)

“The most important thing is that our services will be preserved,” said UNESA’s Acting Executive Officer, Matthew Murphy, after signing the agreements. “That has been our main concern.”

Mrs Susanne Paini, Chief Executive Officer of Services UNE, said the agreements would allow her company “to provide a seamless service to students from Monday” (13 February). Orientation activities for new students begin on that day, and lectures begin the following Monday.

Mr Murphy and Mrs Paini agreed that negotiations over the past months had been “challenging”, but that a focus on the need to provide student services – particularly since the beginning of this year – had finally resulted in a successful outcome. “We’ve come through with a resolution that suits both the University’s and UNESA’s wishes for the new semester,” Mrs Paini said, adding that UNESA had been “very helpful in allowing us to be prepared for Orientation next week”.

Mr Murphy acknowledged the positive role that UNE’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robin Pollard, had played in the negotiation process. “Our discussions have been positive,” he said, “and I think students will be pleasantly surprised with the final outcome.” He emphasised that the most important aspect of any outcome would be a satisfactory level of student representation on the Board of Services UNE.

Professor Pollard, who was present at the signing of the agreements, said: “Student representation is something the University takes very seriously, seeing it as an integral part of its administration. There will be a dialogue over the next semester among stakeholders to ensure that such representation continues.”

“Now we’ve signed these agreements, we’ve got to put them into practice,” Mr Murphy concluded. “Our members will decide the future of UNESA. In the meantime, we will be assisting with the integration of student services. In the new environment of voluntary student unionism (VSU), we need a single organisation looking after those services.”

The photograph displayed here shows (from left) Matthew Murphy, Susanne Paini, Tim Fisher (Acting President of UNESA), and Professor Robin Pollard after the signing of the agreements.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:26 PM

Top award for inland water research goes to UNE professor

February 09, 2006

A freshwater ecologist from The University of New England has won Australia's most important award for the study of inland water systems ("limnology").

Professor Andrew Boulton was named as the winner of the Australian Society for Limnology (ASL) Medal for 2005 at the Society's annual Congress late last year in Hobart. The medal acknowledges "overall scientific excellence and outstanding achievement".

Professor Boulton's achievements relate to the protection (and restoration) of river health and groundwater quality - subjects of increasingly vital concern to all Australians. His research on these subjects at UNE over the past 10 years has attracted Commonwealth Government funding of around $1 million.

In studying interactions between surface water and groundwater in coastal river systems, he has discovered a new world, just below the river bed, inhabited by a multitude of tiny creatures (such as water mites) previously unknown to science. Apart from its intrinsic significance, this discovery has opened up the possibility of using the abundance and diversity of such animals as a reliable indicator of groundwater quality. Professor Boulton and his students have shown that this biodiversity can be reduced by mining, forestry and agriculture along the river.

(The photograph displayed here shows Professor Boulton with a magnified image of one of the newly-discovered water mites.)

His other research subjects include the management of water flow in rivers to protect both wetland ecosystems and the breeding grounds of commercially important fish.

Working with a team of freshwater ecologists at UNE that includes three Post-Doctoral Fellows, 12 PhD students, and three Master's students, Professor Boulton says he is more proud of his students' achievements than his own. "I've seen them make a lot of great discoveries," he said. Two of the Post-Doctoral Fellows working with him are former PhD students of his who have obtained funding to return to the group and, as he says, "extend its depth". His group, within UNE's School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, leads Australia (and in some respects the world) in research on river / groundwater interactions and the ecology of groundwater fauna.

Professor Boulton is committed to the education of scientists in this vital field, and is the co-author of a textbook, "Australian Freshwater Ecology", that has been used in universities throughout Australia since its publication in 1999. He is also the co-author of "Freshwater Ecology: A Scientific Introduction", published in 2004.

He will be presented with the ASL Medal (and deliver an address) at the Society's 2006 Congress in Albury next September.

Media contact: Professor Andrew Boulton on (02) 6773 3760 or Jim Scanlan (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3049.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:09 PM

"Intellectuals and War" conference breaks new ground

February 07, 2006

A conference at The University of New England has looked at war from a novel perspective: the involvement of thinkers, writers and artists in war and its aftermath.

Fifty historians from Australia and New Zealand emerged from the conference yesterday after three days of lively discussion on the conflicting forces that have influenced intellectuals on both sides of the Tasman in their approach to war. Titled “Mars and Minerva: Intellectuals and War in Australia and New Zealand”, the conference explored wars ranging in time from the Maori Wars of the mid nineteenth century to the current “War on Terror”.

One of the organisers of the conference, Associate Professor Iain Spence, Head of the School of Classics, History and Religion at UNE, listed some of the dilemmas that have faced intellectuals in times of war. One was the conflict between a pacifist outlook and a belief that fighting in a particular war (the First World War, for example) was justified. Another was the conflict between intellectuals’ need to think their way through problems and the emotionally-charged immediacy of war. “We had some really good discussions,” Dr Spence said.

“Among the topics discussed,” he continued, “was the general absence of women from war histories, despite their huge practical and intellectual contributions.” He referred to one of the conference papers, presented by Ruth Rae from Tamworth, which dealt with the work of three nurse leaders during World War 1: Ellen Gould (founder of the Australian Army Nursing Service), Margaret Graham (Matron of the Adelaide Hospital before and after the war), and Jane Bell.

“We had a good mix of academics and people from government institutions (including historians from the Army and Air Force, and the Australian War Memorial),” Dr Spence said. “One of the delegates, Dr Simon Potter, travelled all the way from the National University of Ireland in Galway to deliver a paper on radio broadcasting by Australian and New Zealand intellectuals during the Second World War. Altogether, it was an influential group of historians, and their ideas (to be made generally available with the publication of the conference papers) will help to inform future discussion of these issues.”

One of the papers, presented by Craig Barrett and Dr Martin Crotty from the University of Queensland, argued that the heroic “Anzac legend” – often criticised by historians for perpetuating a distorted popular concept of the Gallipoli campaign – has a legitimate place in our culture alongside the historical reality. They added that the legend deserved to be approached – even by its critics – with “a degree of reverence and humility”.

This was the Second Trevenna Conference (named after “Trevenna”, the historic house that is now the Vice-Chancellor’s residence at UNE). The first was in February 1999. The co-organisers of “Mars and Minerva” with Dr Spence were Dr John Moses (Adjunct Professor) and Dr Frank Bongiorno, both from UNE’s School of Classics, History and Religion.

The photograph displayed here shows Dr John Moses (left) and Associate Professor Iain Spence at the conference.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:37 PM

Campus improvements will greet returning students

February 06, 2006

By Stephanie Hubbard

Students returning to The University of New England this month to begin their studies for 2006 will be pleasantly surprised by refurbishments and upgrades begun around the University’s campus over the holidays.

A major upgrade of the Dixson Library is well under way, improving both the look and the function of one of the most important buildings on the campus.

UNE's Construction Manager, Graham Johnson, said the upgrade would improve the library in a number of ways, including optimum access for people with a disability. “The new entry will also provide a central point of entry and an architectural statement that identifies the building more easily to those unfamiliar with it,” Mr Johnson said. The University’s Facilities Management Services hopes that Stage 1 of the upgrade will be completed in time for Orientation, beginning on February the 13th.

Painting of the library building has begun with the section above the entry. The new colour there is “Fluorescent Fire”, and other colours will be featured as painting continues. (The photograph displayed here shows Armidale painters Grant Dell and Jeff Love in front of the newly-painted section of the library.)

The continuing upgrade of the library is just one of many projects scheduled for completion this year at the University. “For instance, many of the car parking facilities on the campus are being enhanced,” Mr Johnson said, “and we are planning to move the School of Human and Environmental Studies into refurbished quarters in the Earth Sciences building.”

Last year, there were a number of refurbishment projects both on the University campus itself and at the C.B. Newling Building in Armidale. One of the largest and most obvious of these was the upgrading of UNE’s Central Courtyard. “Additions to the courtyard such as landscaping and benches have provided a pleasant central gathering point and landmark on the campus,” Mr Johnson said. “The Newling Building, too, was refurbished, with the accommodation of the resident UNE Partnerships being rearranged to improve the building’s utility.”

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:36 PM

Former UNE staff and students honoured on Australia Day

February 03, 2006

By Stephanie Hubbard

Former academic staff members and alumni of The University of New England who received Australia Day Awards this year include one Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) and three Members of the Order of Australia (AM).

These are Professor Ian Falconer (AO), Dr Paul Brock (AM), Mrs Dorothy Davis (AM), and Ms Karen Harmon-Stinson (AM).

Professor Falconer (pictured here) was Professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Nutrition at UNE from 1972 to 1988, and the first Dean of UNE's Faculty of The Sciences. He received his award for “services to science, particularly through research in the area of algal toxins relating to water quality management, to education internationally, and to the conservation movement”. He assisted in the development of World Health Organisation drinking and recreational water guidelines, and the Australian guidelines that followed.

Dr Brock is Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Development in the NSW Department of Education and Training. He was honoured for “service to public education (particularly as an adviser and author in the area of strategic policy development), to maintaining high standards of teaching and professionalism, and to people with Motor Neurone Disease”. He holds a Diploma of Education and a PhD degree from UNE. During his time at the University between 1979 and 1990 he was a Senior Lecturer in the department of English and Chair of the Teacher Education Program in the Faculty of Education.

Mrs Davis, who is the Director of the Australian Institute of Political Science (and of the Tall Poppy Campaign for the recognition of excellence in science) received her award for “service to tertiary education through the promotion of Australia as a study destination for international students and as a provider of educational services”. She gained a Diploma of Continuing Education from UNE in 1985.

Ms Harmon-Stinson has done outstanding work through aid programs in developing countries. Her award citation mentioned in particular her work in implementing a women’s health project in The Philippines. She holds two Nursing Diplomas from UNE, and graduated with a Bachelor of Administration (Nursing) degree in 1990.

UNE graduates have often become leaders in their fields of interest and have gained the recognition of their community and peers.

The very first student enrolled at UNE as an independent university – Don Aitkin – was awarded an AO in 1998 for services to higher education and the community. Professor Aitkin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree (1959) and a Master of Arts degree (1961) from UNE, and the University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2004.

Former Chairman and World CEO of Coca Cola, Douglas Daft, was made a
Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) in 2005. He graduated from UNE in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Mathematics.

Dr Arthur Rickards, a UNE graduate in Agricultural Economics, was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1996. Dr Rickards is Managing Director of the successful UNE-based Agricultural Business Research Institute. In his 40-year association with the University, Dr Rickards has overseen the development of BREEDPLAN, a livestock performance recording database and range of software, now in worldwide use, that has a value to the Australian economy of more than a billion dollars. Dr Rickards is an Honorary Doctor of the University.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:34 AM

Beef project boosted by industry-wide support

February 01, 2006

The University of New England’s Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) has brokered an ambitious plan to get practical information about the latest technology in beef breeding out to the grass-roots of the beef industry. The project will cost more than $1 million and involves regional workshops, on-farm consulting visits, and technical support to breed societies. It will be known as Southern Beef Technology Services (SBTS).

The 14 breeds participating in the SBTS project are Hereford, Poll Hereford, Murray Grey, Shorthorn, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Red Angus, Wagyu, South Devon, Devon, Red Poll, Blonde d’Aquitaine and Salers. The financial contributions of these breeds have been augmented by funds from Meat & Livestock Australia, ABRI, the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders’ Association and the Beef Improvement Association.

During an initial four-year period from 2006 to 2009 the focus will be:

Workshops: A series of 64 workshops (16 per year) will be held to give all members of participating breed societies and other interested people the opportunity for tuition in the fundamentals of the different genetic technologies that are available. The initial workshops will provide information on BREEDPLAN (the UNE-based data system that gives breeders access to Estimated Breeding Values of individual animals), BreedObject and Internet Solutions, and the soon-to-be-released StockTake genetic auditing tool. For details on the 2006 workshops, and enquiries about participation, ring 02 6773 3555 or see the project Web site at http://sbts.une.edu.au.

On-farm visits: Following each of the workshops, two days of on-farm visits are planned in each region. These will provide a valuable opportunity for beef producers to gain advice on specific issues that may arise from the workshops.

Technical Support : This will be provided to beef producers, breed societies and other service providers on a continuing basis. In particular, the team will work closely with the Technical Committees of the participating breeds.

To ensure that the 2006 workshop program will “hit the mark” with industry, a successful pilot workshop was conducted at UNE on 17 January 2006.

ABRI’s Managing Director, Dr Arthur Rickards, said that SBTS would “act as a valuable feedback mechanism for the BREEDPLAN development team in UNE’s Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit and also the operational team in ABRI”.

“Independent analyses have estimated the net present value of BREEDPLAN to the Australian community (producers and consumers) to be around $1 billion,” Dr Rickards continued. “BREEDPLAN has been identified as the world’s leading genetic evaluation system for beef cattle, but we need to ensure that our industry is well informed so that it can make the best possible use of this technology.”

The services offered by SBTS will be delivered by a team of four young technical officers – Benita Davis, Christian Duff, Michael Beattie and Andrew Byrne. All four have both a rural background and significant experience in the processing of BREEDPLAN performance data, the running of GROUP BREEDPLAN evaluations, the technical components of BREEDPLAN and related technologies, the extension of genetic technologies, the operation of modern breed societies, and the services offered within Internet Solutions. They will be supported by experienced beef cattle consultants – including Bob Freer, Alex McDonald and Peter Speers, who all possess more than 30 years’ experience in the beef industry. Dr Rickards is the Project Co-ordinator, Mr Speers will chair the Project meetings, and Christian Duff will lead the operational team.

Dr Rickards said that the SBTS project would complement the very successful Tropical Beef Technology Services Project in northern Australia. “In combination, the two projects will give cattle breeders access to a well coordinated national technical support service,” he concluded.

Media contact: Dr Arthur Rickards, Managing Director, ABRI, UNE (02 6773 3555) or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:29 PM