The University of New England has unveiled plans for its new $6.7 million Animal Husbandry Precinct which will enhance UNE’s reputation as one of the leading agricultural education providers in Australia.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Annabelle Duncan said the Precinct will provide new state-of-the-art teaching facilities for more than 500 students a year.

 ”The facility will also house some of the best research and demonstration facilities in the country in the areas of anatomy, pathology, animal handling, surgery and breeding,” Professor Duncan said.

 Design plans for the Precinct have been completed ahead of schedule, meaning that a construction contractor is expected to be appointed as early as August this year.

 Key features of the design include:

• Reconstructed poultry and sheep housing facilities, including purpose built laboratory and quarantine areas
• Laboratory areas are able to be sectioned off, and sealed, providing a single large work area or multiple smaller areas, complete with temperature, humidity, pressure and lighting controls
• Purpose-built observation areas for teaching and demonstration
• State-of-the-art environmental measures including air filtration, noise and pollution controls, water recapture and improved waste disposal
• Refurbished animal housing and handling features compliant with Australian Standards and the latest animal ethics requirements.

Professor Duncan said the new Precinct is the first part of UNE’s ambitious $46 million Integrated Agriculture Education Project, which received $29 million from the Commonwealth Government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF).

 The EIF is an initiative to support projects that create or develop significant infrastructure in higher education institutions, research institutions and vocational education and training providers.

 “We thank the Commonwealth Government for their assistance with this project which will ensure UNE can continue to meet the critical need for skilled professionals within the agricultural sector now and into the future,” Professor Duncan said.

The E-Male project is an online study which will conduct quantitative and qualitative assessments of the experiences of Australian female-to-male transgender people.

Today “transgender” is an umbrella term for many different kinds of sexual diversity. Transgender people are individuals who do not conform to culturally defined categories of gender for persons of their biological sex (APA, 2009).

The research is based at the University of New England where it is being led by Associate Professor Gail Hawkes, Dr. Amy Lykins, Dr. Tiffany Jones, Dr. Tinashe Dune, Dr. Mitra Rashidian and Ms. Andrea del Pozo de Bolger.

The national study will survey participants aged 16 years and older, through an invite only purpose built e-research site designed specifically for the study.

The site will feature a series of researcher directed discussions through a protected access discussion board. The questions asked by researchers will revolve around; sexuality (sexual attraction, sexual behaviour, sexual identity/preferred label, sexual health), the transition process, physical and mental health, access to services, support networks, life satisfaction and general wellbeing, sexual functioning, substance abuse,  educational and occupational status, everyday life obstacles related to gender and legal challenges.

By gaining an understanding of peoples’ personal experiences, the researchers hope to address the current gap in research to know what it is like to be a female-to -male (FtM) transgender person or a “transman” in Australia today.

“It is important to understand that there are many different people who identify with being transgender. They may not be concerned with blending with the opposite sex. They may or may not seek hormone and/or sex reassignment surgery, or they may opt for only partial surgery. They may even adopt a gender neutral or ambiguous position” commented Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Dr Amy Lykins. 

“We have found that the younger generation may refer to themselves as “gender queer” in an attempt to avoid binary categories. Others may experience a strong aversion to their primary genitalia and could benefit from SRS but financial limitations or concerns about the complications and limited functional outcomes of surgery become an obstacle” continued Dr Lykins.

The University of New England team was motivated to complete the study as currently, worldwide, research tends to focus on male-to-female (MtF) transgender people and has shown that the FtM subgroup have different needs and experiences – which is why this study aims to focus on FtM Australians. It is apparent that transgender is not a static concept and is highly dependent on the scientific, socio, cultural, political and geographical context at any given point in time. 

“The particular federal protections for people of diverse gender identities that we have been advocating for will likely soon be supported through either the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013, or the proposed Human Rights Bill 2012″, said Dr Tiffany Jones, ‘Ensuring a need for increased understanding of transgender people across various health and employment sectors, and a broader audience for the findings of our research.’”

Several members of the E-males research team – Associate Professor Gail Hawkes, Dr Tinashe Dune and Dr Tiffany Jones – have also been involved in the creation of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) within Eduone at UNE, “Sexuality-Based Persecution and Discrimination”. This course features significant materials on issues of sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, homophobia and prejudice as well as queer pride. The course can be accessed for free at: http://www.eduone.net.au/module/sexually-based-prejudice-and-discrimination/”.

All participants, and any information they provided to the research project, would be treated confidentially. To participate, please go to the following URL:

http://unebcss.us2.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9SOLx5W9hqUPcuV

This study has been approved by the University of New England’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HE12-229; expiry date 29.01.14).

Researchers from the University of New England have begun recruiting individuals who would like to reduce their general level of anger. The recruitment is for a study being conducted to assess the effectiveness of online cognitive training for anger control.

Generally, anger is a normal emotional experience and can have a positive function. Most people experience anger from one to several times per week, at a moderate intensity, for a short period of time. Normal anger can motivate an individual to defend and protect personal boundaries from perceived outside threat.

Some individuals experience anger too intensely, for too long, or too frequently. This type of anger is problematic and has been linked with negative consequencesing on interpersonal relationships, decision-making, behaviour control, and a person’s physical health.

Anger has, for example, consistently been associated with discord and conflict between partners, family, friends, and colleagues. Angered individuals are more likely to think irrationally, make poorer decisions and behave aggressively. They are also likely to rate anger as an unpleasant experience mixed with feelings of guilt and depression.

Unfortunately, high levels of anger have also been associated with health problems such as hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Student researcher Amanda Howie explains, “Anger is a serious concern that is quite often not taken seriously. The consequences of too much anger are evident, yet there is a lack of awareness within the community. This makes it hard for individuals who recognise they have a problem to know where to turn for help.”  She continues, “The internet has the potential to make help more accessible to a wide range of people, especially for those who are unable or unwilling to see a professional.”

The University of New England study is designed to evaluate whether online cognitive training is effective for reducing individuals’ anger levels. Participation in the study is conducted via the internet, including two questionnaires and the completion of four online modules. In total, this equals approximately four and a half hours across four weeks. It is open to all individuals over the age of 18 who would like to reduce their general level of anger.

Any information or personal details gathered in the course of the study will remain confidential. No individual will be identified in any publication of the results. All names will be replaced by pseudonyms; to ensure that they are not identifiable.

For more information on this study, or to discuss the possibility of participating, please contact Amanda Howie, ahowie@myune.edu.au or Associate Professor of Psychology John Malouff at jmalouff@une.edu.au or visit their Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/UNEangerstudy.

The University of New England achieved a milestone at the weekend with its first entrant in the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), NSW Pharmacy Student of the Year competition taking out the coveted title.

University of New England student Callan Beesley has been named the 2013 NSW Pharmacy Student of the Year. As the state finalist, Callan will represent NSW at the 2013 Pharmacy Australia Congress in October.

“The pharmacy team congratulates Callan, he is an excellent representative of the University of New England’s pharmacy degree,” said Professor Ieva Stupans, Head of Pharmacy , University of New England.

“To have one of our students in our first final year cohort recognised by the PSA’s judges is a great endorsement for our program.”

Aimed at final year pharmacy students, the competition recognises the importance of communication and counselling skills in best pharmacy practice.

Callan Beesley said it was a “massive shock” to be named as the NSW winner. “This is a huge honour for me  and studying pharmacy at UNE has been an excellent experience,”  he said following the presentation.  “The course focuses on the importance of professional behaviour and acting in a fiduciary manner, and I believe these qualities helped enormously in the competition.  With smaller class sizes at UNE, I was able to build strong relationships with the faculty staff and this has made a real difference to the quality of my education as well.” he said

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia national President Grant Kardachi, PSA said of Callan’s performance in the competition,  “These young pharmacists are quite outstanding and their ability to engage with the consumer, gather appropriate information and formulate a response is remarkable at their age,” Mr Kardachi said. “Callan displayed all these attributes and characterises to take out the title.”

UNE is the only university in Australia that offers pharmacy via distance education.  For more information about UNE’s Bachelor of Pharmacy visit http://www.une.edu.au/study/pharmacy/.

The sale of a property controlled by the University of New England in 2005 has been referred to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for investigation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jim Barber, said he had referred the sale of the property to the ICAC in accordance with the Act.

“This is now a matter for the proper authorities to investigate and they will receive the full cooperation of the university,” Professor Barber said.

Why are some countries poor and some rich? Why are some that are rich in resources still poor in living standards? Why did Australia weather the Global Financial Crisis relatively well when Spain and Greece have not?  uneOpen is offering a free core International Business unit giving participants the tools to answer these questions and more.

In an Australian first, anyone can freely access and study the International Business courseware and ultimately have the option to sit an exam and have their learning accredited toward the University of New England’s world-recognised Masters of Business degree.

UNE Lecturer in Business Dr Tony Ramsay said the open-access courseware would provide anyone with an interest in how the world works with a detailed understanding of the forces at play in today’s globalised international markets.

“Many people have their own views on whether globalisation is a good or bad thing, but relatively few feel able to argue their point in an informed and knowledgeable manner,” Dr Ramsay said.

“Whether you’re a Keynesian social democrat or Friedmanite free marketeer, this unit is about empowering participants to make up their own minds as to the role of regulation and its impact upon international business relations.

“From international institutions – the World Trade Organisation, World Bank and International Monetary Fund to the political and financial imperatives of the European Union, the Asian Century and free trade agreements, we examine the mechanisms and momentums of globalisation.”

Dr Ramsay said he is excited at the opportunities the uneOpen model can afford adults who never had access to a tertiary education.

“I came to tertiary studies at UNE as a mature aged student after years in the building industry – I had felt completely disempowered at school, but then I took the chance to study something interesting and never looked back,” Dr Ramsay said.

“uneOpen’s free courseware format means that anyone can get a taste of tertiary studies, but in a completely flexible format – no deadlines, no timed assignments.

“All participants get the benefit of the information in the course, but down the track, if an individual wants to formalise their studies, they can apply to credit this study toward a UNE Masters of Business program,” Dr Ramsay said.

uneOpen heralds the future of higher education in Australia – offering a more flexible study option for people.

It offers a range of fee-for-service products, alongside the open courseware, letting students choose what academic services they need.  Fee-for-service products will include tutorial support, examinations and ultimately students may choose to have their learning recognised for credit into a UNE degree.

To find out more information and to enrol go to https://www.uneopen.com/

Movie-goers in Armidale are set for an even greater experience later this year when digital technology comes to Belgrave Cinema.

The upgrade to the twin cinemas will begin in the coming months and will include the installation of digital projectors in both auditoriums, with one of those offering 3D technology for the first time.

The cinema’s sound system will also be upgraded to feature enhanced surround sound.

Digital technology provides many opportunities for the Belgrave Cinema to expand current offerings to include 3D movies, live sports broadcasts such as soccer & rugby world cups and other entertainment options such as multiplayer gaming (web-based games with multiple players) on the big screen.

The Belgrave Twin Cinema opened in February 1995 and since that time it has been a wonderful venue for entertaining the Armidale community. 

The cinema currently uses 35mm reel technology which, until 2010, was what nearly all movies distributed and shown in Australia used.  With developments in 3D and digital technology, distributors have increasingly moved to a digital format for the distribution and screening of all movies.

University of New England Associate Professor, Anne Pender, is currently participating in the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) Scholars and Artists in Residence Program in Canberra.

Anne’s project of study for the duration of her residency at the NFSA is entitled Actors in the Living Room: Australian Television and its Transformations 1958-1988.

The primary aim is to explore the work of a large number of Australian actors who came to maturity in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and succeeded in developing their careers in Australia, as a direct result of the opportunities offered to them by the growing medium of television.

The work of these actors in a number of television programs, telemovies and series, will be investigated in order to document and interpret their artistic contributions to a distinctively Australian television culture, during a critical period of Australian cultural and social history.

Since arriving in Canberra and commencing her placement, Anne has found the experience fascinating, particularly the access to the Archive’s significant national audiovisual collection. 

“I am discovering the early television work of actors such as Nick Tate, Max Cullen, Garry McDonald, Jeanie Drynan and Kate Fitzpatrick, and coming to understand the kinds of roles offered to them in drama of all kinds, situation comedy and variety shows. It is a privilege to be at the NFSA and to have the chance to trace the careers of these and other Australian actors on television.” Dr Pender said.

 Anne Pender is Associate Professor of English and Theatre Studies and ARC Future Fellow at the University of New England. A Menzies scholar to Harvard University and graduate of the ANU and UNSW, Anne taught Australian literature at King’s College London in 2002-03 and was Visiting Distinguished Professor of Australian Studies at the University of Copenhagen in 2011

Professor of Macroeconomics in the UNE Business School, Professor Abbas Valadkhani, has been in the news recently talking about his recent article, ‘Do petrol prices rise faster than they fall when the market shows significant disequilibria?’ published in the journal Energy Economics.

Professor Valadkhani’s paper examines if petrol prices in Australia rise faster than they fall and identifies in which locations the “rocket-and-feather” hypothesis applies.  The research analyses more than five years of data and finds that the hypothesis applies in 28 of 111 retail locations nationwide.

Professor Valadkhani says of his research, “It is interesting to note that out of the 28 retail locations exhibiting significant adjustment asymmetry, none were from Western Australia, where FuelWatch is effectively monitoring petrol prices unlike the rest of the country. I have also found that the three “motorist friendly locations” are in SA and WA.”

Professor Valadkhani believes that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission should focus on the pricing behaviour of retailers in the 28 identified locations.

As identified in the research paper, Australian households spend a significant share of their income on petrol thus price rises of this commodity have a tangible effect on their standard of living particularly for poor families.  The community interest in fluctuating petrol prices ensures that Professor Valadkhani’s work creates significant media interest whenever a new paper is published.

The research results were discussed on the “Meet the Press” program (19 May 2013) by the Independent Senator for SA Nick Xenophon and Katharine Robinson. 

Professor Valadkhani has undertaken a number of interviews with mainstream media outlets with John Rolfe, the Cost of Living Editor at News Limited offering a good overview of the research which can be read here.

This article also appeared in The Australian, The Daily and Sunday Telegraphs in Sydney, the Courier Mail and the Sunday Mail in Brisbane, The Sunday Territorian in Darwin, and the online news sites CarsGuide, Adelaide Now and Sydney Now. Professor Valadkhani has also undertaken a number of radio interviews.

In his interview, Professor Valadkhani concludes “Based on the results, one can argue that there is convincing evidence for the existing of the adjustment asymmetry.  By identifying the locations in which asymmetric pricing is more prevalent, this paper can lead to the greater efficiency and transparency of the petrol market, particularly in view of recent debates surrounding suspected profiteering in the petrol industry.”

Professor Valadkhani’s research examined price variations from 2007 to 2012 and was funded by the Federal Government’s Australian Research Council Discovery Project.

The University of New England’s UNE Business School has been nationally recognised in the 2013 LearnX Impact Awards.  Awards were received in the categories of Best Talent – Learning Team, Best Talent – Online Facilitator and Best eLearning Design – Interactive Scenario.

The annual awards are open to any individual, team or organisation operating in an Asia–Pacific country and who have implemented or released a learning solution from January 2012.  The Awards aim to acknowledge the importance of learning and development and recognise the impact that talented learning professionals can have on organisational capability.

The gold award for Best Talent – Learning Team was awarded to the Educational Development and Communications team (Sue Whale, Naomi McGrath, Tim Cluley and Llara McClenaghan) and builds on the UNE Business School’s ongoing commitment to the creation and support of best practice online learning resources and activities. The result of this work is improved interaction and engagement in units for students, ensuring they achieve the best learning outcomes.

“We have established streamlined, high-quality online courseware which is consistent across all units offered within the School, providing an enhanced educational experience for students.” said Professor Alison Sheridan, Head of the UNE Business School.  “Our academic staff are also committed to responding to ongoing trends and developments in the industry, ensuring units stay relevant,” Professor Sheridan continued.

Dr Leopold Bayerlein was awarded the platinum award of Best Talent – Online Facilitator for the high quality of his online facilitation skills for which he has received consistent praise from students since his appointment in the School.

Dr Bayerlein and Naomi McGrath also achieved a finalist position in the Best eLearning Design (Interactive Scenario) category for his ‘Balancing Life’ Alternate Reality Gaming platform in an undergraduate accounting unit taught at the UNE Business School.

Replicating a ‘real life’ workplace online, the purpose built learning environment is designed to support students by providing in situ scenarios and content, focusing on the development of practical skills. This allows students a self paced online learning experience while supporting UNE’s strategy to create flexible and interactive online learning scenarios.

The project was developed in response to feedback from former students and potential employers in the local business community who highlighted the need for the development of practical skills and understanding of interactions between concepts to further improve the work readiness of graduates.

 For more information about the UNE Business School visit http://www.une.edu.au/business-school/