Professor Birgit Loch

Biography

Professor Birgit Loch was Executive Dean of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law until May 2024 before she left to join Federation University. She came to UNE from La Trobe University, where she was Chair Teaching and Learning, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Coursework and Deputy Provost Learning & Teaching in the College of Science, Health and Engineering. She has also held acting appointments as Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning Quality and Innovation and as College Provost.

Prior to joining La Trobe, Professor Loch was Academic Director Digital Learning and Technologies at Swinburne University of Technology and also Head of the Maths and Stats Help Centre between 2010 and 2016. Prior to that, she was Principal Advisor Learning and Teaching in the Division of ICT at the University of Southern Queensland.

Professor Loch is a Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE (PFHEA) and Fellow of the Australian Mathematical Society. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in computational mathematics from the University of Queensland, a Diploma in Mathematics (Dipl.-Math.) from the University of Essen and a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching & Learning from USQ. Professor Loch is an expert in educational technology including online learning, in mathematics support, and she has driven innovative approaches in learning and teaching including virtual reality and 360 video projects. She has widely published on open educational resources, blended and online learning and pen-enabled technologies. She is the recipient of several university teaching awards for her own teaching and for leadership in learning and teaching, an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation and the Australian Award for University Teaching.

Professor Loch is also a founding member of the WATTLE program, the Australian version of NZUWiL with currently 13 Australian university members, and has served on the In2Science Advisory Board.