Project to explain differences in language-learning ability

May 31, 2007

An international project initiated from the University of New England will attempt to explain why some people are better than others at learning a foreign language.

The aim of the research will be to identify – and distinguish between – genetic and environmental factors that influence second-language acquisition.

The project, initiated by UNE's Language and Cognition Research Centre (LCRC), has attracted funding of more than US$10,000 from the prominent international journal Language Learning. This money, with additional support from UNE through the LCRC and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, will be used to conduct a workshop of international experts in genetics, linguistics and psychology to develop detailed plans for the research. The workshop, at the Institute for Behavioural Genetics at the University of Colorado in the United States, will be on June 16 and 17.

UNE's Professor Brian Byrne, an international authority on the development of language skills in children, said: "It is well known that people vary considerably in how readily they can learn a new language, and investigating second-language learning in a way that can distinguish between genetic and environmental factors will go a long way towards settling the debate as to why this variability exists. Studies of identical and fraternal twins are the most commonly-used means of distinguishing between environmental and genetic determinants of behaviour. We expect that our first full-scale study will begin in 2008, using a large sample of twins."

Professor Byrne (pictured here) is a principal researcher in an international project that is using twin studies to understand differences in children's reading ability. "Identical twins are more similar to each other than are fraternal twins in aspects of behaviour where genetic factors predominate," he explained. "Where the family environment is of higher importance, both twin types will be equally similar."

UNE's Dr Liz Ellis and Dr Karen Woodman (specialists in second-language learning) and Mr Will Coventry (an expert in the statistical modelling of twin data) will accompany Professor Byrne to Colorado for the workshop. Other participants will come from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, the Universities of Hawaii, Michigan and New Mexico in the United States, and Stavanger University in Norway.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:55 PM

Academy holds its first symposium on animal minds

May 30, 2007

The University of New England's Professor Lesley Rogers, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA), has convened and chaired the first symposium on animal cognition ever held at the Academy.

Professor Rogers brought together some of the world's leading authorities on higher cognition in animals for the 2007 Annual Symposium at the Academy in Canberra, held earlier this month. They travelled from universities in Italy, the UK and New Zealand – as well as from several Australian universities – to discuss evidence of complex "mental" processes in bees, birds, apes, and other animals.

Lesley Rogers (pictured here) is Professor of Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour at UNE. Her ground-breaking research has been at the forefront of a resurgence of interest, over the past 20 years, in (as she says) "explaining the complex behaviour of animals as a function of complex cognition, rather than explaining it away with vague terms such as 'instinct'". Sir Patrick Bateson, Emeritus Professor of Ethology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), in delivering the keynote Rutherford Memorial Lecture as an opening to the symposium, discussed this confusion surrounding the term "instinct".

Professor Mandyam Srinivasan, FAA, FRS, from the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland, reported on research with bees that has demonstrated their ability to count landmarks in finding their way back to a food source, and to acquire abstract concepts such as "sameness" and "difference".

Among talks focusing largely on birds, Professor Giorgio Vallortigara from the University of Trieste in Italy (and an Adjunct Professor at UNE) discussed evidence that complex cognition in young chicks is, in some respects, on a level that human infants do not reach until they are four months old. Professor Nicola Clayton from the University of Cambridge described experiments indicating that some birds, in their food-storing activities, can actually plan for the future. Professor Gisela Kaplan from UNE, using the example of alarm calls and mimicry in Australian magpies, showed that vocal communication in birds may involve complex cognition. Talks by Professor Russell Gray from the University of Auckland, NZ, and Dr Nathan Emery from the University of Cambridge dealt with the ability of some birds to make and use tools. Cognition in primates was also discussed.

Professor Rogers explained that the advanced cognitive abilities of birds presented a challenge to the view that cognitive ability evolved with increasing complexity only along the mammalian line – to primates and eventually humans. "Birds with their very different brains can perform some of the most complex tasks – including tool manufacture and use," she said.

Immediately after the symposium, the participants travelled to Moss Vale, NSW for the inaugural workshop – convened and chaired by Professor Rogers – of the Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation (FEAST), an organisation established by the Australian Government and the European Union to highlight, promote and facilitate research collaboration between their respective communities.

In the four-day workshop on higher cognition in animals they were joined by Professor Allan Snyder, FAA, FRS, from the University of Sydney, Director of the Centre for the Mind. Professor Snyder added a new dimension to their discussions by his insights into the minds of autistic "savants" – minds (he said) "with privileged access to lower-level sensory information before it is packaged into holistic pictures and labels". He reported on experiments in which inhibition of "normal" human subjects' left cerebral hemisphere enabled them to experience the world in this "savant-like" way.

Professor Rogers said Professor Snyder's work had important implications for her own research – and that of Professor Vallortigara – demonstrating specialisation by the right or left cerebral hemisphere in the control of behaviour patterns in a range of vertebrate species. She added that she and Professor Vallortigara – in the spirit of FEAST, and inspired by the work of Professor Srinivasan – were now planning to extend their collaborative work into the realm of the invertebrates by investigating brain lateralisation in the responses of bees to odours. She noted that several other collaborative projects had arisen from the FEAST workshop.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Professor Lesley Rogers displayed here expands to include Professor Giorgio Vallortigara and Professor Gisela Kaplan. It was taken during a visit to UNE by Professor Vallortigara before the Australian Academy of Science symposium.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 06:03 PM

UNE archaeologist chosen for Harvard professorship

May 29, 2007

Iain Davidson, the University of New England’s Professor of Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology, will follow in the footsteps of such luminaries as Manning Clark, Gough Whitlam, John Mulvaney, Rhys Jones, Geoffrey Blainey and Tim Flannery when he takes up the position of Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University in August next year.

"It's a very distinguished bunch of people, and it's a very daunting and exciting prospect to be following in their footsteps," Professor Davidson said. "And Harvard has such distinguished scholars: it’s a terrific privilege to be going there to work with such people."

Professor Davidson (pictured here) will offer lectures and seminars, meet students and faculty staff, and visit other American universities with Australian studies programs as part of the professorship, which is awarded annually and extends over a one-year period.

He will also pursue his own research with the aim of writing a book about Australian archaeology. "One of the reasons I was so keen to take up the position is that Harvard has the Tozzer Library: the best archaeology library in the world," he said. "I am keen to write a book about Australian archaeology after 30-odd years of being involved with it."

Professor Davidson will also investigate similarities and differences between the experiences of the Indigenous peoples of Australia and America during their colonisation of the respective continents. "There are some similarities between Australia and America, and why their first people colonised them so late in the human experience," he said.

Professor Graeme Davison from Monash University, the Chair of the Australian Nominating Committee and a previous holder of the Harvard Chair, said: "As one of Australia's leading archaeologists, Iain Davidson is admirably equipped to meet the keen interest of Americans in the ancient history of our land and its people. I enthusiastically welcome his appointment." (THE PHOTOGRAPH of Professor Iain Davidson displayed here expands to include, from left, Professor Graeme Davison and the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew.)

Professor Davidson obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Cambridge, UK. He began his archaeological career with (he said) "the romantic dream that archaeology could contribute unwritten pages to the history of ancient Greece and Rome". This dream changed as he conducted fieldwork in countries as diverse as Jordan, Turkey, France, Britain, Greece and Spain, as well as in Australia. In Spain he worked on a site that produced some of the earliest arrowheads ever found. It was this interest in the lives of hunters that led him to Australia – and UNE – in 1974.

He has taught on subjects including hunting, animal bones as evidence of prehistoric economy, rock art, language origins, and the link between stone tools and cognition. He has directed major field research programs (working closely with Aboriginal people in north Queensland, western Sydney and the Hunter Valley), completed a major project with the Department of Natural Resources and Planning about resource management by Gamilaraay people in northern NSW, is a foundation Director of UNE’s cross-disciplinary Heritage Futures Research Centre, and has acted as a consultant for a wide range of private industries. He has written two books, edited four others, and co-published numerous papers on the origins of language. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and a past president of the Australian Archaeological Association.

The Chair of Australian Studies was established as a gift to Harvard by the Australian Government in 1976 to commemorate America’s Bicentennial, "in order to maintain such teaching, research and publication as will help to promote awareness and understanding of Australia in the United States of America".

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 10:37 AM

New trial of fatigue treatment

May 28, 2007

Psychologists at the University of New England are seeking participants for the trial of a new treatment for persistent fatigue, following promising results from a study conducted last year.

The treatment focuses on the psychological – rather than physiological – components of persistent fatigue, defined as fatigue that is medically unexplained and persistent for at least a month.

In the earlier study, participants received several weeks of private sessions with a qualified psychologist who worked with them to increase their positive emotions and elevate their mood.

Of 11 people who completed the treatment, seven showed significantly less fatigue as a result. Follow-up assessment found eight participants still had significantly improved energy levels three to four months later, while two individuals who did not complete the treatment showed no improvement.

Dr John Malouff, who supervised the study, said he was excited about the results and that now he and his colleagues were looking for ways to make the treatment more accessible to people suffering from persistent fatigue.

"Like any form of face-to-face psychological therapy, this treatment is expensive and requires the person to turn up to regular sessions with a therapist," Dr Malouff said. "What we're trying to do now is come up with a way that people can get the same results by themselves at home."

Dr Malouff and his colleagues are now seeking 120 people to participate in the trial of a new mail-based treatment, which they hope will offer a cheaper, more convenient alternative to sessions with a psychotherapist.

"Even if they can afford it, most people don't particularly want to see a psychotherapist," Dr Malouff said. "That's why we're exploring this intervention."

People interested in participating in the study should have experienced medically unexplained fatigue for at least a month. Typically, they would feel tired most or all of the time and get little relief from sleep.

Anyone interested in participating in the study should contact Louisa Eastmead on (02) 4457 2070 or email louisa.eastmead@bigpond.com.

Media contact: Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771.

Posted by Leon Braun at 10:54 AM

Horticulture a growing proposition at UNE

May 25, 2007

At a time when horticulture is declining in popularity at many Australian universities, staff and students at the University of New England (UNE) have found it to be a growing proposition.

This year a record 52 students are enrolled in the horticulture unit (an elective available through a number of disciplines), which is taught by the internationally renowned teacher and researcher Professor Acram Taji (pictured here). Professor Taji's passion for the subject is contagious, and infects her students who come from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.

"In this unit I have students from agribusiness, science, agriculture and rural science degrees," she said. "I have scheduled the program so that lectures (story-telling), discussions (dealing with global perspectives on horticulture) practical classes (visiting various local enterprises such as vineyards and greenhouses) and team assignments all contribute to students' collaborative learning."

Professor Taji encourages international students (who this year come from Bahrain, Bhutan, Indonesia, India, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Vietnam) to share their perspectives, knowledge and experiences with the Australian students. "Such interactions enrich the class dynamics," she said.

One of these students, Ahmed Eid, came to UNE to study horticulture in order to complement his occupation in quarantine in the Kingdom of Bahrain. "This subject has given me a good opportunity to speak to people in the sector about the challenges they face," he said. "I had heard a lot about the shortage of water and the cost of labour, but I experienced it first-hand when I visited the enterprises during our tour."

Ahmed’s first-hand experience came from a recently completed three-day field trip, during which students toured a range of enterprises in places as far away as Queensland’s Lockyer Valley. These enterprises included a plant nursery, a vegetable seedling nursery, an organic vegetable farm, an orchard using recycled water, mushroom production, a celery farm, a nut processing business, a stone fruit farm and, lastly, an innovative vineyard and wine production enterprise in Ballandean.

Professor Taji explained that a common theme among the businesses visited was the lack of skilled labour available to them. "All the enterprises we visited indicated that right now there was a huge skill shortage in rural Australia," she said. "They need people who understand plant physiology and nutrition, soil fertility, integrated pest management, quality assurance, and global markets. Students taking horticulture develop skills to fit such a profile."

Professor Taji’s horticulture course is an elective that can be taken within UNE's Bachelor of Agriculture, Rural Science, Agribusiness, Science, and Environmental Science degree programs.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:15 PM

Blokes reclaiming the Bard: public seminar

May 24, 2007

The prominent Canadian actor, director and theatre scholar Ian Maclennan will present a public seminar at the University of New England on Monday 28 May, when he will talk about modern experiments with single-sex productions of Shakespeare's plays.

Dr Maclennan's discussion will include recent productions at the Globe Theatre in London (where the former artistic director Mark Rylance played the leading female roles in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Twelfth Night), and productions by the innovative companies "Propeller" (pictured here) and "Cheek by Jowl".

His talk, at 12.30 pm in UNE's Arts Building (Room LG1), will relate this modern phenomenon to its historical roots on the early English stage: Shakespeare wrote all his great female roles – Cleopatra, Juliet, Beatrice, and the rest – to be performed by boy actors. (Women were not a common sight on English stages until the Restoration in 1660.) He will illustrate the talk, titled "Single-sexing Shakespeare: historical and production issues in contemporary performance", with examples from some of the modern productions he is discussing.

Dr Maclennan is the Director of the Theatre Arts Program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, and teaches theatre history and theory. He has acted and directed in countries including Canada, the United States and the UK. His adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew for an all-male cast was presented by the "CentrStage" company in Launceston, Tasmania, last year.

For more information on the seminar, contact Helena Davies on (02) 6773 2534 (e-mail: hdavies@une.edu.au).

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:15 PM

Zac brings UNE its second Hawker Scholarship

May 23, 2007

Zac Gazzard, a student at the University of New England, has been rewarded for his academic and community achievements by the award of a Charles Allan Seymour Hawker Scholarship.

Hawker Scholarships are valued at up to $60,000 over four years, making them the most generous privately funded scholarships available to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Australia. They have been called "the Australian version of Rhodes Scholarships".

Zac (pictured here), who is a resident of UNE's Robb College, is working towards a double degree in Environmental Science and Law. He completed his Higher School Certificate studies at St Leo’s Catholic College in Sydney with a UAI score of 90.7, and has been recognised for pursuing his interest in the environment and politics – winning Keep Australia Beautiful, Commonwealth Bank, and regional environmental awards. He hopes to gain a position with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or in environmental reporting about Australia’s cultural and natural heritage.

"The scholarships reinforce the idea that being involved in the community is just as important as high grades," he said. "They support going into the political arena, so community leadership is definitely a factor."

Zac, who is the second recipient of the Hawker Scholarship from UNE after Skye Gabb – also from Robb College – became a Hawker Scholar last year, said he chose UNE because of the reputation of its environmental science program, and because it had a great mountaineering club due to the proximity of surrounding gorges. He also chose UNE because of the college lifestyle it offered.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. David Hawker MP, presented Zac with his scholarship certificate during a ceremony in the Members’ Dining Room at Old Parliament House, Canberra, on Friday 11 May. He was one of ten to receive the scholarship, which is provided to students at select universities in Australia. The Hawker Scholarships perpetuate the memory of the scholar, soldier, pastoralist and statesman C.A.S. Hawker (born in 1894), a cousin of David Hawker's father. Postgraduate winners of the scholarship are given the opportunity to follow in Charles Hawker's footsteps by studying at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

"Each of these recipients has already displayed a strong commitment to the ideals upon which the Charles Hawker Scholarship is founded," David Hawker said. "They are gifted scholars with inquiring minds, and have already contributed to the wider community."

Selection is based on personal qualities as well as academic ability. Applications for the 2008 Charles Hawker Scholarships open on 3 December 2007 and close on 18 January 2008. An application form and further information is available from www.hawkerscholarship.org or by contacting the secretary to the Trustees on (08) 8238 6295.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Zac Gazzard displayed here expands to include the Hon. David Hawker MP and the Head of Robb College, Janice Moran. It was taken in Canberra after the scholarship presentation ceremony.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:22 PM

New reps "SHAPE" up in the fight against harassment

May 23, 2007

Sexual harassment has no place at UNE: that's the message, and 31 newly-trained student volunteers are determined to spread it.

The students, from each of UNE's residential colleges as well as town, completed a weekend training program where they learned about the causes and consequences of sexual harassment and assault, how to deal with it when it happens and how to help prevent it.

The training was a prerequisite to their becoming official "SHAPES" representatives – SHAPES being the acronym for UNE's Sexual Harassment and Assault Peer Education and Support program.

The weekend brought the total number of SHAPES representatives on campus to 63.

The SHAPES program, which has been running at UNE since 1999, aims to raise awareness of sexual harassment and assault on campus and to offer a support network to people who experience them. It also forces participants to face up to some of their own prejudices and preconceptions, and confront the reality of sexual harassment and assault through stories and statistics.

What makes the program unique is that the volunteers are drawn from the students' own ranks – the theory being that a traumatised person is more likely to approach someone close than a stranger.

"People generally feel more comfortable talking to someone similar to themselves," says Annette Stevenson, coordinator of the SHAPES program and a counsellor at UNE. "When someone is in distress, they are more likely to approach someone in their immediate vicinity. There are at least half-a-dozen SHAPES reps in each college, so people should always have somewhere to turn if something happens to them."

The program's emphasis is as much on education as support, and SHAPES volunteers play an important role in educating their fellow students on what is – and isn't – acceptable behaviour in the hallways and dorm rooms where they live, study and play together.

"We teach our reps how to recognise harassment when it occurs and try to instill them with the confidence to challenge these behaviours when they see them," Annette says. "We believe people are more likely to hear a message when it comes from a peer than when it comes from some outside authority."

In addition to speaking out against harassment when it occurs, SHAPES representatives spread their message of respect through quiz nights, t-shirts, posters, and Shapes eating competitions (Shapes crackers, that is).

Arts/law student Sheri Carolin, 21, has been a SHAPES rep since 2005 and says the reps play an important role in maintaining harmony in an often rowdy college environment.

"We all have to live together and be sensitive to each other," she says. "So if we see a t-shirt slogan or a party theme that's likely to be offensive to people, we try and tone all that down."

Unfortunately, college residents can and do find themselves in unpleasant situations, Sheri says.

"Like it or not, we have a party and drinking culture, and where you have that sort of environment things are bound to go wrong. People sometimes do things they didn't think they would ever do."

"Any serious issues are dealt with by the university or the police, but if people feel uncomfortable, it can help to talk to someone independent from the college system."

"Our job is to listen, understand and support them, and help them take the issue further if they want to."

"A big emphasis is on just listening to the person," Annette Stevenson says. "Letting them know it wasn't their fault and that they are believed. For a lot of people, that's the most important part right there."

For more information about the program, or to contact a SHAPES representative, visit the SHAPES website at http://www.une.edu.au/shapes or speak to the SHAPES coordinator, Annette Stevenson, on 6773 2897.

Press contact: Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Posted by Leon Braun at 10:54 AM

Poets to perform in Armidale

May 22, 2007

Two nationally recognised and respected poets who have enduring connections with the University of New England – Peter Skrzynecki and Julian Croft – will be performing their published works in Armidale this Thursday, May 24.

Peter Skrzynecki (pictured here) is a graduate of UNE (BA, 1975 and MLitt, 1986). Julian Croft was a member of UNE's academic staff from 1970 till 2001, and is now an Emeritus Professor in UNE's School of English, Communication and Theatre.

For 20 years, Peter Skrzynecki was a primary school teacher with the NSW Department of School Education. His first teaching appointment was to a small school at Jeogla, near Wollomombi Falls, in 1967. He describes his return to Armidale as something of a "homecoming", and wants to make the most of his visit by delivering a series of poems in Armidale about Armidale to the Armidale people. He says the area has a special place in his past life as a teacher and burgeoning writer. He is now an Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney.

He has eight books of poetry to his name, with a ninth – OLD/NEW WORLD – set to be published in August by the University of Queensland Press. His third publication, Immigrant Chronicle, is studied for the Higher School Certificate English examinations. UNE is flying him up from Sydney to be the guest lecturer at its Regional Day for HSC English students and teachers on Friday 25 May.

Julian Croft, author of the recently published and highly praised Ocean Island, is a well-known and respected Armidale identity. He will be performing excerpts from Ocean Island – a collection of poems that make poignant yet unsentimental connections between bodies and landscapes, the past and the present.

His poems, as well as those of Peter Skrzynecki, deal with the influence of memory and place in shaping the self and society. Their performance on Thursday will be from 7 till 8.30 pm at The Armidale Club.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:27 PM

School students share experience of 'maths in action'

May 22, 2007

Year 8 students from 32 schools throughout northern NSW had an opportunity to indulge their interest in mathematics for a whole day when they competed in the 13th annual Year 8 Mathematics Day last Friday.

Two hundred students, working in teams of four, took part in the challenging day of mathematical fun at the University of New England. They came from towns as far afield as Port Macquarie, Tweed Heads and Moree.

The New England Mathematical Association, UNE's School of Education, and the National Centre of Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR), which is based at UNE, jointly sponsor the competition. Robyn Hadfield from PLC Armidale, the mathematics teacher who convened this year's event, said it had enabled students to share their enthusiasm for mathematics with their peers from other schools, and to gain experience of working in a team. "And in the construction activity that brings the day to a climax, they get to experience maths in action," she added.

A team from Oxley High School in Tamworth won the "large schools" division of the competition, and a team from Holy Trinity Central School in Inverell won the "small schools" division.

Brett Newton, a mathematics teacher from MacIntyre High School, Inverell, who accompanied his students to UNE, said the event gave participants "a different perspective on maths". "They find out that doing maths – just for the sake of doing it – can be fun," he said.

"They return to the classroom with increased enjoyment and drive," Mr Newton added, "and they pass on their enthusiasm to those who did not take part in the competition."

Each of the four members of the two winning teams received a medallion, and the two teams took the Mathematics Day's perpetual trophies back to their respective schools. Texas Instruments continued its sponsorship of the event this year by providing a complete class set of graphic calculators and an interactive on-site licence as a "lucky door prize".

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows UNE's Professor John Pegg, Director of SiMERR, speaking to participants in the Year 8 Mathematics Day.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 01:48 PM

$2.5 million extension for Robb College

May 21, 2007

The University of New England's Robb College will receive its biggest overhaul in four decades, thanks to a federal grant of $2.5 million announced last week.

The money will go towards the construction of a 50-bed extension, called the East Court, which will bring the total capacity of Robb College to 250-300 students.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor David Rich said the money would help UNE maintain its reputation for outstanding on-campus accomodation.

"The Residences are a distinctive and very important feature of UNE and the university is committed to a substantial program of upgrading and redevelopment to ensure they continue to meet the needs of students and the institution," Professor Rich said.

"The Capital Development Pool grant of $2.5 million is a very welcome contribution from the Commonwealth government, and when added to a similar sum from internal sources will allow the construction of top quality accommodation in a new wing at Robb College," he said.

Many of the new beds are expected to be taken by students enrolling in the new rural medical school that will open at UNE next year.

The extension will include a large number of single bedrooms with ensuites and kitchenettes, as well as several dedicated study areas for residential students.

Jan Moran, the Head of Robb College, said the extensions would assist the university to offer a greater diversity of accomodation styles, as well as contributing to the general refurbishment of the colleges in line with the university's strategic plan.

Posted by Leon Braun at 12:25 PM

Educators discuss models of collaboration

May 18, 2007

Fifty educators from around the nation gathered at the University of New England this week to discuss models of collaboration that are helping to preserve the diversity of courses available to Australia's tertiary students.

Delegates to the forum on "Collaboration to offer small courses / subjects", funded by the Federal Government's Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, reported on current collaborative projects and discussed the potential for further inter-institutional collaboration.

"The depth of course options traditionally offered at Australian universities can be threatened when declining numbers of students or staff in any particular course renders it unfeasible," explained UNE's Dr Belinda Tynan, one of the conveners of the forum. "However, universities can continue to offer these small courses and maintain a high level of subject diversity through creative collaboration between each other, alternative institutions, and the private sector."

Dr Tynan, Associate Professor Kerry Dunne, and Dr Robyn Smyth – all from UNE – convened the forum in association with Professor Elizabeth McDonald (pictured here), Director of the Grants Scheme at the Carrick Institute. The two-day forum, on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May, brought together academics from universities around Australia, as well as delegates from TAFE and industry, and members of the Carrick Institute. The participants heard reports on the collaborative delivery of courses in fields as diverse as languages, physics, mathematics, mining, creative writing, biostatistics, and screen production.

Dr Dunne gave a presentation on the "UNE blended model" – a cooperative model through which UNE delivers language courses to students enrolled at other universities. Examples of other models presented included a reciprocal sharing of physics units between UNE and Murdoch University in Perth, and an eight-university collaboration for developing a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.

UNE's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor David Rich, in drawing the forum to a close, emphasised the need for strong leadership – and a definite purpose – in collaborative projects.

After the forum, Professor McDonald said: "In the presentations and discussions, we've seen the development of people's thinking and the challenges they've faced – and survived. The participants have gained from seeing how others have approached things."

"There's a sense that people want to carry this forward," she added.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Professor Elizabeth McDonald displayed here expands to include the three UNE-based conveners of the forum: (from left) Associate Professor Kerry Dunne, Dr Belinda Tynan, and Dr Robyn Smyth.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 06:07 PM

College art exhibition in 20th year

May 18, 2007

Robb College, one of the University of New England's student residences, is holding its 20th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition this weekend.

The exhibition features works by Robb College students and local artists. On display will be paintings, drawings, photographs, jewellery, pottery, and examples of other arts and crafts.

At tonight's opening function, beginning at 6 pm, a panel of judges will decide on the student work that, as winner of the Max Webster Prize, will be bought by the College. Entry to tonight's function is $15 for adults, $10 for students, and $30 for families. Light refreshments will be served.

The exhibition, in Robb College's Junior Common Room, will be open on Saturday 19 May from 9 am till 3 pm, and on Sunday 20 May from 9 am till 2 pm. Entry is by gold coin donation.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Sarah Cookson, Robb College's Cultural Officer, with a work by Anna Henderson titled "Conflict".

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:25 PM

Celebration of achievement and generosity at UNE

May 17, 2007

The Ghana High Commissioner for Australia, His Excellency Mr Kofi Sekyiamah, attended the University of New England's annual Scholarships Presentation Ceremony yesterday to celebrate the success of a Ghanaian student.

Mr Sekyiamah (pictured here, left) joined an audience of about 200 people in UNE's Lazenby Hall to see 160 students presented with scholarships worth a total of more than $4 million.

The Ghanaian student, Quassy Adjapawn (pictured here, right), who is conducting research in UNE's Centre for Peace Studies, received an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship. He was one of 61 postgraduate students to be presented with scholarships yesterday in the first UNE ceremony to include postgraduate along with undergraduate scholarships.

Professor Alan Pettigrew, the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, welcomed scholarship donors, students and guests to the ceremony which, he said, celebrated the achievements of students and the generosity of donors.

Professor Pettigrew presented UNE Country Scholarships (worth $5,000 a year for the duration of the degree course) to 14 students. These scholarships, established in 1998, have so far supported more than 200 students at UNE. They are awarded to students from regional and remote areas who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership ability, and participation in school and community life. Professor Pettigrew also presented several UNE Armidale District Country Scholarships – established so that the University can recognise outstanding young people from the Armidale community.

Individuals, community organisations, businesses, industry groups, and organisations within UNE itself are among the scholarship sponsors. Individual donors of undergraduate scholarships who attended yesterday's ceremony included Dr Brian Connor, Mr Ces Spence, Emeritus Professor John Roberts, Mr Scott Williams and Mr Richard See. Businesses, industry groups and other organisations represented included Armidale Dumaresq Council, Inland Technology, Tamex Transport, the Australian wool industry, Joblink Plus, the Country Women's Association of NSW, the New England Credit Union, Spotless Services, the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics, the UNE Alumni Association (Armidale), and Wright College Association.

Mr John Young, brother of the former Immigration Minister Mick Young, attended the ceremony to present several Mick Young Scholarships to Indigenous students.

The postgraduate awards included scholarships funded by the Commonwealth Government, UNE, research organisations, government bodies and industry groups. The newly-established Patricia Vinnicombe Scholarship for Rock Art Studies, funded by Woodside Energy Ltd, went to Kenneth Mulvaney for research on the Aboriginal rock engravings of the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia.

Heather Brockwell, recipient of a Jim Pollard Prize (sponsored by the UNE Alumni Association, Armidale) and the Richard See Scholarship in Student Leadership, speaking on behalf of the scholarship recipients, thanked all the donors, saying they had enabled many students "to embark on a lifelong journey of education".

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here, showing the Ghana High Commissioner for Australia, His Excellency Mr Kofi Sekyiamah, and postgraduate scholarship recipient Quassy Adjapawn, was taken at yesterday's Scholarships Presentation Ceremony.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:55 PM

Leadership 'critical' in public sector reform

May 16, 2007

A newly-published book demonstrates the critical role of leadership in public sector reform.

"The way in which leaders initiate and manage reform can often be even more important, in determining its eventual success, than the type of reform instruments they use," said the University of New England's Professor Brian Dollery, a co-author of the book.

"The book focuses on the interplay between actual public sector reform and its conceptual foundations," explained Professor Dollery, from UNE's School of Economics and Centre for Local Government. "We show that experiments with different types of reform represent a kind of fluid 'learning-by-doing' process in which leadership plays a critical role."

Reform and Leadership in the Public Sector: A Political Economy Approach, written by Professor Dollery, Professor Joe Wallis of the American University of Sharjah, and Linda McLoughlin of the Dublin Institute of Public Administration, has been published by Edward Elgar Publishers in Cheltenham, England.

Professor Dollery said the new book continued his collaborative research work with Professor Wallis that had continued for more than 25 years.

"Joe Wallis and I have been involved in trying to explain public sector reform from the disciplinary perspectives of economics, politics, and public administration since we first worked together as colleagues at Rhodes University in South Africa in the early 1980s," he said.

"Reform and Leadership in the Public Sector continues the work we began with the volume Market Failure, Government Failure, Leadership and Public Policy (Macmillan, 1999) and developed further in our The Political Economy of Local Government (2001) and The Political Economy of the Voluntary Sector (2003).

"In essence, we have developed an economic theory of leadership drawing on work in politics and public administration, and have tried to apply this theory to different organisational contexts in society."

Reform and Leadership in the Public Sector will be officially launched in Dubai, Dublin and Armidale. Details of the Armidale book launch will be announced when arrangements have been made.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here expands to show Professor Brian Dollery with the newly-published book.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:22 PM

Richard Torbay to deliver this year's Drummond Lecture

May 15, 2007

The Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly and Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay, will deliver the 2007 Drummond Memorial Lecture at the University of New England's Drummond and Smith College on Friday 18 May.

His lecture, titled "Redefining Public Education", will pay tribute to the enormous contribution made by David Drummond as Minister for Education from 1927 to 1930 and from 1932 to 1941.

Mr Torbay (pictured here) will also look at the changing attitude to public education since that time, and the challenges facing the system into the future.

Everyone is welcome to attend the free public lecture, at Drummond and Smith College, beginning at 6 pm. It will be followed by a dinner for invited guests only. Parking will be made available within a short walk from the College. For more information on the lecture ring Edwina Ridgway, the Principal of Drummond and Smith College, on 6773 5701, or e-mail: eridgway@une.edu.au.

Mr Torbay is well known on the UNE campus as the former Chief Executive Officer of the University of New England Union (which he served for a total of 20 years) and as a member of the University Council.

Last week he was elected the first non-aligned Independent Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, an historic event for the Parliament and NSW. He will also take a leading role in the new Rural Task Force being established by the Government.

Mr Torbay served on Armidale Dumaresq Council from 1991 to 1999. He was Deputy Mayor and Mayor, as well as Chair of the NSW Country Mayors’ Association and Chairman of the New England Local Government Group. He is the patron of several local organisations.

In 1999 he was elected as the first Independent Member for Northern Tablelands, and in Parliament has served on the Public Accounts Committee, the Speaker's Technology Advisory Group and the Joint Committee on the Office of the Valuer General, and has been a member of the Regional Investment Task Force, the Joint Select Committee on Bushfires, and the Standing Committee on Public Works.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 01:39 PM

Flexible nursing program unique to UNE

May 14, 2007

The University of New England has launched a new version of its Bachelor of Nursing program which – uniquely in Australia – will qualify students to work as Enrolled Nurses after their first two years of study, as well as Registered Nurses at the completion of the three-year degree course.

During the official launch of the program on Friday 11 May, the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, said this unique flexibility was in tune with Federal Government policy aimed at creating greater "differentiation" among universities. "There's no other nursing course like this," Professor Pettigrew said.

The course coordinator, Jan Brown from UNE's School of Health, explained that unqualified people entering the program could either complete the three years of study and gain a Bachelor of Nursing degree and eligibility for Registered Nurse status, or graduate with an Advanced Diploma in Nursing (and Enrolled Nurse status) after two years. Diploma graduates could, when they wished, return to UNE to upgrade their diploma to a degree, she said.

"This responds to the needs of those prospective students who find a three-year course prohibitive," Ms Brown said. "It also allows students completing the degree program to earn money and gain experience by working as Enrolled Nurses – during term breaks – in their third year."

The new program has flexible entry as well as exit points: TAFE-qualified Enrolled Nurses will be able to go straight in to the second year, enabling them to gain the Bachelor of Nursing degree and qualify as Registered Nurses after two years of study.

Development of the program over the past two years has involved detailed documentation by a team of three UNE Nursing lecturers: Dr Glenda Parmenter, Dr Penny Paliadelis, and Jackie Lea. "We had input from the whole Nursing team at UNE," Dr Parmenter said, "and we had lots of input from local clinicians , who advised us on innovative measures to address the shortage of nurses.

"We went to Sydney to defend the program in front of a 20-strong committee of the Nurses and Midwives Board. The Board awarded it the maximum accreditation of six years."

"This innovative program recognises the individual nurse as an adult learner," said Chris Coombs (pictured here), the Director of Nursing at Tamworth Hospital (and an Adjunct Professor at UNE). "It will support nurses' learning needs and thus enhance nursing care. And I believe, as an employer, that it will increase the retention of nurses across the workforce."

Another speaker at the launch, Sue Dennison, Nurse Practitioner for Nundle Community Health (and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at UNE), said today's nursing graduates were facing many changes, including a more multicultural environment and multidisciplinary approach to health care. "What UNE is doing to help nurses cope with the future is exciting," she said.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Chris Coombs (Director of Nursing at Tamworth Hospital) displayed here expands to include Tim Godwin, a second-year Nursing student at UNE. It was taken at last Friday's launch of the new Nursing program.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:51 PM

Rural teachers share successes in maths and science

May 11, 2007

A Commonwealth-funded project based at the University of New England is enabling secondary science and mathematics teachers in the New England region to share their stories and experiences after identifying and addressing issues that were limiting their students' achievements.

The project, titled "Collaborative innovations in rural and regional secondary schools: enhancing student learning in science and mathematics", involves 12 schools in Armidale, Barraba, Glen Innes, Guyra, Inverell, Manilla, Quirindi, Tamworth, Uralla, Walcha and Warialda.

The 18-month project is funded by a $72,000 Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics grant to the National Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology, and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR), based at UNE. It is based on a professional development model for teachers that was developed by UNE researchers. "It's particularly important to have schools identifying their own issues, and then working with the support of other schools, researchers, and curriculum advisers from the NSW Department of Education and Training to address those issues," said the co-leader of the project, Professor John Pegg, the Director of SiMERR. "This allows teachers to have ownership of the issues identified and the solutions implemented. UNE has been championing this model since 1990, and we are excited to have this external funding to support the initiative."

Professor Pegg said the project was central to the mission of SiMERR, which was to address the fact that science and mathematics students in rural and regional schools do not, on average, achieve as highly as their peers in metropolitan schools.

Dr Debra Panizzon, Deputy Director of SiMERR and co-leader of the project, said its strength lay in its ability to "improve students' learning outcomes while enhancing the informal professional development of teachers within their own schools".

Dr Panizzon (pictured here) said that teachers had developed a range of projects within their own schools to address the issues they had identified. These included developing a homework policy, preparing integrated units of work in science that maintained links between content, skills and teaching strategies, a survey of students to gain a clearer understanding of difficulties they were experiencing in mathematics and science, and the development of a battery of basic mathematics tests to help identify particular learning difficulties.

Reports on some of the schools' completed projects, prepared in the form of podcasts, were 'unveiled' during a recent workshop at UNE. These podcasts are available at
http://www.simerr.une.edu.au/ASISTM/Welcome.html, enabling teachers anywhere in
Australia to access the perspectives and experiences of the teachers involved.

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Dr Debra Panizzon displayed here expands to include two teachers from Warialda High School - Agbe Attipoe and Susan Leamon - who were among those attending the recent workshop at UNE.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 12:51 PM

Postgraduates spread a 'thank you' breakfast

May 10, 2007

There was standing room only at the postgrads@une breakfast held recently to thank the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Peter Flood, for his continuing support of postgraduate students.

Professor Flood once again demonstrated UNE’s commitment to higher degree research students by the allocation of funds to provide state-of-the-art computers for the computer laboratory at UNE's Postgraduate Centre.

The postgraduates presented him with two bottles of commemorative champagne as a token of their appreciation.

The breakfast boasted two familiar postgraduate chefs – Vice-President Mechele Collins and Executive Committee member Martijn Boerkamp – who outdid themselves yet again with their culinary expertise.

"We are very fortunate to have such a supportive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) here at UNE," said Catherine Millis, President of postgrads@une. "This targeted funding is much appreciated, and the new computers are a substantial addition to the facilities at the Centre.

"The recently appointed Postgraduate Centre is a haven for postgraduate students looking for a quiet place to study or socialise. The Centre has 24/7 access to registered users, and students are strongly encouraged to make good use of it, and to attend our functions."

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows (from left) Catherine Millis, Professor Peter Flood, and Andrew Zhen in the Postgraduate Centre's computer laboratory.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:50 PM

Budget offers 'many opportunities', says Vice-Chancellor

May 09, 2007

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England, Professor Alan Pettigrew, has welcomed the higher-education component of the new Federal Budget, saying it presents "many opportunities for UNE".

"Nationally, the new Budget gives a strong, positive signal for the future of tertiary education in Australia," Professor Pettigrew said.

"The Government has responded to repeated calls from the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee for an increase in funding per student place," he continued. "While I'm particularly pleased about the biggest increases – for places in clinical psychology and mathematics and statistics – increases for places in almost all other academic disciplines will give us the opportunity to move UNE forward, through our Academic Renewal process, in keeping with our Strategic Plan."

Professor Pettigrew (pictured here) said he saw opportunities for UNE in the $209 million to be distributed over the next four years, under the new Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund, to assist universities to diversify and specialise. "The Government has said that, in administering this fund, it will give priority to regional (and smaller metropolitan) universities that can demonstrate the greatest need for structural reform," he noted.

UNE's prominent role in teacher education should open another source of new funding. The Government will be allocating $77 million over four years to help student teachers gain more practical experience working in classrooms before they enter the profession, and Professor Pettigrew said this should provide "a welcome addition to a very important area for UNE".

"UNE, with its high levels of skill and experience in delivering summer school courses, will also be looking for opportunities within the new Australian Government Summer Schools for Teachers program, to be funded with $102 million over four years," he added.

The centerpiece of the Budget's higher education package is a $5 billion Higher Education Endowment Fund for approved capital works and research facilities. "This is an innovative and welcome approach," Professor Pettigrew said, "that will provide substantial funding to universities – on a competitive basis – in perpetuity. It shows that the Government is serious about investing in universities for the long term."

He welcomed the allocation of $222 million to improve students' access to tertiary education. This money will increase the number of Commonwealth Scholarships, extend eligibility for Rent Assistance to Austudy recipients, and extend the eligibility for Youth Allowance and Austudy to students undertaking approved Master's programs by coursework. "This will support UNE's commitment to extending education – particularly to those from rural and remote areas," he said.

"The Budget's initiatives for Indigenous students have the potential for a positive impact on UNE and the Indigenous communities it serves," he continued. These initiatives include payments of $4,000 each to up to 1,000 Indigenous students a year – particularly those who need to relocate from rural and remote areas – to help them take up a university undergraduate or enabling course, and $5 million for enhancements to ABSTUDY.

"We look forward to exploring the many possibilities that this Budget presents," he concluded. "It will, I believe, enable us to develop UNE in accordance with the vision spelled out in our Strategic Plan."

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Professor Pettigrew displayed here expands to include the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop. It was taken during a presentation ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra, last December, when UNE was awarded $1.5 million through the Government's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:52 PM

UNE 'Regional Day' to illuminate HSC English texts

May 08, 2007

The University of New England is hosting a special community-wide event that will attract Higher School Certificate English students and teachers from the New England and Peel Valley regions.

On Friday the 25th of May a large audience of English teachers and students will be coming to UNE to hear prominent writers, critics and scholars of literature speak on key HSC English texts.

The special invited guest, Peter Skrzynecki, whose Immigrant Chronicle is one of the set poetry texts in the HSC, will give a two-hour lecture on his poetry. Skrzynecki, a graduate of UNE, is now an Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney. He said that he would discuss the seven poems set for study in relation to the specific topic area "Physical Journeys." He would deal with the "problems associated with undertaking physical journeys and what is learnt from such experiences, and how themes of hope and sacrifice lead us to a better understanding of ourselves and the world," he said.

Other specialists in the field of English Literature and related areas will provide a series of lectures and talks on the many novels, plays and poems set for the 2007 HSC examination.

This will be UNE's first HSC English Regional Day. Its organiser, Dr Suzie Gibson, said its aim was "to not only support students and teachers working towards the HSC English examinations, but also to foster and enhance the teaching and learning of English Literature in the region". "Some of the more remote schools can feel a bit isolated," Dr Gibson said, "and we want them to identify UNE as a place where knowledge and ideas are shared and developed.

"Although the HSC Regional Day is a debut event for the University of New England’s School of English, Communication and Theatre, it is one of many projects through which the School aims to engage in a real and dynamic way with the wider regional community."

For more information on the HSC English Regional Day at UNE, contact Dr Gibson on (02) 6773 3386.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Dr Suzie Gibson with HSC student Sophie Glover.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:14 AM

UNE security puts late-night bus service ahead of the rest

May 07, 2007

The University of New England is providing security for the trial "Night Rider" bus service in Armidale. Last week, the University began supplying and funding a security guard to ride in the bus at all times. The late-night bus service is already one of the most successful in NSW – especially in a regional centre – according to UNE and Police representatives.

The Night Rider service grew from a cooperative approach between UNE, local late-night licensed premises, the Armidale Liquor Accord, Armidale Dumaresq Council, the Police, and the Roads and Traffic Authority.

"It was initially a State Government funded trial for Friday and Saturday nights," said UNE's Campus Services Manager with Facilities Management Services, Col McCallum. "Progressive assessments of the service resulted in a direct route to the University and an expansion to cover Thursday nights. There are committees on the campus, such as the Alcohol Awareness Advisory Committee, in which issues are tabled with student representatives present. That was how we identified the need for the Thursday night service."

"Adding security personnel to the service meets a genuine safety issue," Mr McCallum continued. "For example, if a young woman was to try to get off, by herself, on the way back to the University, the guard would be there, advising against it, with her safety in mind. For the three trips a night, for a period of just over two hours, a guard will be present on the bus at all times.

"The Night Rider leaves the Armidale CBD on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from a range locations and varying times which are advertised on posters. With regular local bus services ceasing around midnight, the Night Rider departs at about 12:15 am, 1 am, and 2 am. It is proving an ideal way of helping UNE students, out having a good time, to get home quickly and safely.

"The local Licensing Supervisor, Senior Constable Graham Watson, is responsible for the Night Rider," Mr McCallum said. "It has received State Government funding, and Edwards Coaches has been supportive with very reasonable rates."

"The support from UNE in funding the security presence has meant a major step forward," Senior Constable Watson said. "For a lot of the other late-night bus services in NSW, the cost of security is the biggest hurdle they face. To try and raise the funds needed to provide a secure bus service is just about impossible without the support of a major sponsor like UNE. This is probably one of the most successful Night Rider bus services running in the State at the moment."

"As a Liquour Accord project, it is a holistic approach to a range of needs and social issues," he said. "At the conclusion of this six-month trial period, we will analyse statistics to gauge the value of the service to the community and its sustainability."

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Col McCallum (left) and Senior Constable Graham Watson. It expands to include Jason Richey, UNE Site Supervisor for SNP Security.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:36 AM

Interest strong in medicine at careers expo

May 04, 2007

Interest in the University of New England's new medical program was running strong at the Armidale Careers Expo held at UNE's Wright Centre yesterday.

About 750 school students from 14 high schools – some as far away as Dorrigo and Emmaville – attended the event. About 60 exhibitors were on hand to talk to students about careers as diverse as accountancy, teaching and law enforcement.

One of the most popular stands was Hunter New England Health, where Project Officer Rebecca Crockett and her colleagues received more than 150 enquiries about careers in health. A lot of students were keen to hear about the new joint medical program to be run in partnership between Hunter New England Health, the University of Newcastle and the University of New England from 2008, she said.

The program will provide for 60 Commonwealth-supported students to study a five-year medical program at the University of New England and a further 100 students at the University of Newcastle.

"If anyone said they were interested in a career in medicine, we directed them to the school," Ms Crockett said.

Enrolments and Progressions Officer Maree Walsh fielded enquiries for UNE about the new medical school and said there was a lot of interest from local students who were excited about the prospect of studying medicine locally.

Students who want to apply for the Bachelor of Medicine at UNE needed to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) in July, Ms Walsh said. Registration for UMAT2007 closes on Friday, June 1.

Press contact: Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Pictured: Ellen Mackenzie from Armidale High School discusses the UNE experience with Customer Service Officer Lisa Rice.

Posted by Leon Braun at 04:20 PM

UNE, NSW Rugby now partners in regional Rugby development

May 03, 2007

Grass-roots Rugby Union across the New England region is to benefit from a new joint venture between Sport UNE at the University of New England and NSW Rugby.

"In partnership with NSW Rugby, Sport UNE has just taken on the Rugby development in the area," announced Rugby Development Manager at Sport UNE, Dave Schmude.

"We now have Andrew Moore based out here," Mr Schmude said. "He will be the Development Officer; my role is Development Manager. Our goals will be to increase the profile of the sport in the area – from juniors right through to senior players and officials."

"NSW Rugby's presence in New England is now based at UNE, and will be for the next 12 months at least," he said.

According to Mr Schmude, the joint venture with Rugby NSW demonstrates the important role that Sport UNE can play in the New England region. "Here at Sport UNE we've got a bit of a 'sporting Mecca'," he said. "We can draw upon great sporting facilities here. Sport UNE provides an ideal central base from which Andrew and I can work closely together, combining our expertise with what is available here to keep building the profile of Rugby Union. There is extensive expertise at Sport UNE in organising events and training clinics."

"To have NSW Rugby tap into the physical and human resources here is a real coup for Rugby in the New England region and the University," he added.

"In my role as a Rugby development officer, I'll be working alongside Dave, getting into the schools around the region," Mr Moore said. "I'll be going there through various classes, and extra activities we'll organise with the Principals and sports coordinators. We've already touched base with Glen Innes and Guyra. It was great: the kids there were really enthusiastic.

"The priority with our school visits will be fun. It's important for kids to enjoy Rugby, so that they might take an interest in it in their later years. We'll put them through drills and skills – the basics. Generally, our aim is to increase the presence of Rugby in the community from the grass-roots up."

A PHOTOGRAPH of Andrew Moore is displayed here.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:59 PM

UNE part of new, $10 million Higher Education Institute

May 02, 2007

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, has announced funding of $10 million to establish a new national Higher Education Institute – proposed by the University of Melbourne – in which the University of New England will play a prominent role.

UNE, through its Centre for Higher Education Management and Policy, will work in direct collaboration with the University of Melbourne, where the L H Martin Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Management is to be based.

The Martin Institute would "provide a new national focus for enhancing the quality of higher education leadership, management and governance in Australia", Minister Bishop said when announcing the funding yesterday.

UNE will be a primary external collaborator, contributing extensive expertise and experience in distance education course delivery, its rural and Asia-Pacific focus, and its higher education management offerings.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, said he was delighted that the Minister had approved the proposal.

"This is a major initiative that utilises the skills of a number of different institutions with complementary expertise to enhance the quality of higher education leadership," Professor Pettigrew said. "UNE is delighted to be part of this proposal and is looking forward to working with the University of Melbourne to ensure its success."

The Director of UNE's Centre for Higher Education Management and Policy, Professor Lynn Meek, explained that, among other things, UNE would be bringing its "expertise and vast experience in distance education" to the work of the Institute. He pointed out that the ultimate beneficiaries of a higher education system that delivered high-quality training and research were "Australian citizens".

Minister Bishop said the Institute, based at the University of Melbourne, would involve "direct collaboration with Victoria University and the University of New England, and an advisory council". She added that it would also involve "a high level of cross-sectoral collaboration with TAFE and other vocational education and training providers, and the private higher education sector".

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 05:38 PM

Educators ready for 'next step' in 'narrowing the gap'

May 01, 2007

According to leading educationists from abroad, an Australia-wide program to "narrow the gap" between high and low achievers in Australian schools – particularly in rural and regional areas – is "poised for the next step".

Speaking at the end of the Narrowing the Gap conference at the University of New England last week, they said a national research centre based at UNE had "identified the problems", had developed innovative intervention programs for under-achieving students, and had demonstrated the effectiveness of those programs.

Professor James Royer (pictured here) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, and Professor John Hattie from the University of Auckland, NZ, said the conference had shown that the Australian researchers had moved beyond the "problems" to focus on "solutions".

The "next step" is the implementation of those proven intervention strategies on a larger-scale, longer-term basis. "Let's worry about all kids who are in those lower-achieving groups," Professor Royer said.

UNE's Professor John Pegg, Director of the research centre known as SiMERR (for National Centre of Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia), said that increasing the scale of intervention programs would require substantial Federal and State government funding.

Dr Lorraine Graham, SiMERR's Associate Director (Student Diversity) and the convener of the Narrowing the Gap conference, said a central conclusion of the conference had been the necessity to "address the performance of low-achieving students in a sustained and well-resourced way". She said that one of the keynote speakers – Professor Geoff Masters from the Australian Council for Educational Research – had emphasised the importance of working with individuals and small groups of students, and having the resources to do so. "The issue for low-achieving students is so complex that they really need individual or small-group support," Dr Graham said.

Another keynote speaker at the conference, UNE's Professor Ian Hay, pointed out just how cost-effective such educational interventions were in the long term, as they could prevent the development of chronic unemployment and other costly social problems in the later lives of many under-achieving students.

The international conference, hosted by SiMERR, was on April 26, 27 and 28. Delegates from SiMERR's "hubs" at universities in all Australian States and Territories attended, and there were reports of the success of SiMERR intervention programs in several rural and regional areas. "Something exciting is happening in SiMERR groups across Australia," Professor Hattie said. "They're poised for the next step."

THE PHOTOGRAPH of Professor James Royer displayed here was taken during the Narrowing the Gap conference.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:13 PM