Archive for the 'News' Category

May brings a double celebration for the University of New England’s Earle Page College, which celebrates its 50^th year anniversary and the 20^th anniversary of the annual fashion parade.

The fashion parade, which will take place on the 4^th of May at the Armidale Ex Services Club, helps raise funds in support of the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI). Last year almost $10,000 was raised but this year will see an even bigger extravaganza with the Vice Chancellor, Jim Barber, participating in one of the dance routines which will kick off the show.

Nearly half the residents of College will be involved as will much of the local community and sponsor New England Mutual. Hayley Simpton, Fashion Parade Coordinator, comments “The whole community works together to create this night. We have fun and we are giving back to the community. It is an event that we strongly urge the community to support and participate in as we work to link the students, university and community to work towards a successful and happy night.”

All are welcome to the fashion parade, one of the largest charitable events in the residential colleges of the University of New England, which draws attention to local Armidale Fashion Houses. The funds raised will be combined with other components of the fundraising campaign coordinated by the Coast Run Committee and presented to the CMRI during the fashion parade.

Entry will begin at 7 pm for a 7.30 pm start. Tickets – $30 for adults, $25 for students and $15 for children under 15 – can be bought from the Earle Page College Office (phone 6773 5300). Tickets will also be available at the door. Tables for 10 are available: please book in advance.

The University of New England has welcomed a $1.8 million boost in Federal funding to extend research into farming and livestock management initiatives to reduce methane gas emissions and increase soil carbon storage.

UNE Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber said this week’s announcement was welcome recognition of the quality work of the collaborative research partnerships between UNE and NSW State and Federal Government Departments.

“The University of New England aims to be the nation’s university of choice for research into regional issues of global significance and is highly regarded for the quality of its research that is of particular significance to rural and regional communities,’ Professor Barber said.

“Through this program, UNE has been a significant contributor to the Federal Government’s Climate Change Research Program, and this week’s announcement will allow our leading agricultural and environmental scientists to continue their groundbreaking research into farming management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and store additional soil carbon.”

UNE received grant funding for the following three projects under Round 2 of the Federal Government’s Filling the Research Gap Program:

• Genetics to reduce methane emissions from Australian sheep                $810,314
• Impacts of Carbon Farming methodologies on whole-farm systems     $532,613
• Importance of ‘deep’ soil carbon to long-term carbon storage                $513,414

UNE Professor of Animal Nutrition, Roger Hegarty, leads both livestock emissions projects and says this research is the next step in delivering real greenhouse management tools for farmers.

“Our UNE-NSW Department of Primary Industries partnership has previously shown that methane emission yield from livestock is a heritable trait, so genetic improvement is possible” Professor Hegarty said.

“This funding boost will enable us to develop simpler ways of measuring these emissions in order to make genetic change in emissions commercially viable across large numbers of animals.

Dr Brian Wilson who leads the soil carbon component of the work emphasised the value of research partnerships with NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, CSIRO and ANSTO in building this key research project to examine long-term carbon storage to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Each of these projects paves the way for farmers and landholders to employ different management strategies to manage emissions without compromising productivity and to draw benefit from the current Carbon Farming Initiative.

The University of New England is pleased to announce that the Honourable John Watkins has been elected by the University’s Council, as its new Chancellor.

 Mr Watkins is a former NSW Deputy Premier and Education Minister and is currently the CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia- NSW.

 UNE Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber said Mr Watkins was an excellent choice as the University’s eighth Chancellor. “I am looking forward to the fresh approach and ideas Mr Watkins will bring to the position,” Professor Barber said.

 Mr Watkins said he was honoured to take on the position. “UNE has a proud history of being innovative in its approach to the delivery of education and I look forward to continuing that tradition,” he said.

 “Since joining the UNE Council in 2012, I have gained an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead for UNE. I have great respect for Professor Barber and believe we will work well together to deliver the strategic vision of the University.

 “I would like to thank the Deputy Chancellor, Dr Geoffrey Fox, for his on-going hard work and leadership, especially during the transition between Chancellors.”

 Professor Barber said that Mr Watkins takes over the leadership of the University at a very good time in its history.  “UNE has turned the corner financially and over the last three years we have seen record growth in student enrolments. Our healthy financial position has allowed us to finally embark on delivering our capital works program, which includes the building of a new residential college and a new agricultural education building.

 “We are also making significant progress on achieving our ambitious Strategic Plan which is focused on finding innovative solutions to the new demand driven higher education environment.

 “The launch of our Future Campus this week in Parramatta is further evidence of our innovative approach to the delivery of higher education. Through state-of-the-art technology, the Future Campus will offer our students better access to flexible tertiary learning, enhancing their overall student experience.

 ”I look forward to working with Mr Watkins on delivering UNE’s Strategic Plan and ensuring we remain a leader in flexible learning in Australia,” Professor Barber said.

The University of New England will today unveil the future of flexible tertiary education with the opening of its first Future Campus in Western Sydney.The UNE Future Campus is a technology-enabled learning innovation hub in the heart of Parramatta to support the more than 2,000 UNE students living and studying in the region.

UNE Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber said the Parramatta pilot would be the model for new Future Campuses to be rolled out across Australia, with a second Future Campus to be opened in Tamworth in 2014.

“We have a long history of pioneering distance education that began in the 1950s with Australia’s first distance learning courses,” Professor Barber said.

“Now technology has allowed us to remove the “distance” from education and bring face-to-face online learning to people in the areas in which they live.

“With increasing numbers of people looking to study later in life, they need to know there are support facilities available that will allow them to juggle lifestyle commitments such as work and family.

“They also benefit from close personal support from staff, something that UNE is renowned for, and the Future Campus is proof of our commitment to making it easier for people of all walks of life, to access quality tertiary education.”

The campus delivers the latest in teleconferencing and telepresence technology that will enable students to participate in lectures, tutorials and study groups being conducted at the UNE’s Armidale Campus or other locations around the world, allowing them to actively participate in discussions as if they were actually present in the campus lecture rooms.

“Parramatta is fast becoming an area of high economic growth and the new Future Campus brings us closer to this growing market, as well as our thousands of existing students in the greater Western Sydney area,” Professor Barber said.

“Next year, we will be expanding the concept into Tamworth, delivering these same opportunities to UNE’s thousands of students across the North West.”

The Parramatta Future Campus was made possible through financial support from the Australian Government’s Structural Adjustment Fund.

UNE will celebrate the opening of the Future Campus today (April 19, 2013) with an academic procession, a graduation presentation ceremony, interactive technology displays and a community street party.

A six week radio series ‘Bush Remedies’, exploring mental health in rural areas, is being broadcast on the radio station ABC New England North West, NSW.

The series will explore some of the major factors which influence mental health and the way in which nurses’ contribute to the well-being of rural communities. The six topics that will be addressed include; mood & food, natural disasters, suicide, adapting to change, social media and mental health first aid responses.

Following serious government cutbacks in the last 18 months, most notably a decrease in funding for the Medicare funded Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) and the Better Access programs, rural areas have been left vulnerable.  ‘Bush Remedies’ delves deeply into the complex issues that influence mental health in rural  locations in order to promote rural mental health resilience, raise awareness of the enduring problems these communities face and highlight the channels of support  available.

With the government withdrawing funds from these areas and mental health problems far outweighing those in urban areas the research and resources of regional universities have become increasingly important.  Presenter of this series Rhonda Wilson, lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at University of New England, is currently collaborating with other academics in this field to publish an important review on the impact of social media on mental health in rural areas. Bush Remedies will examine this area in week five and try to answer fundamental questions such as; how it is being used, the adaption rate and whether it is an effective tool.

Whilst extensive research for this programme has been undertaken at the University of New England, the issues it raises are applicable nationally and the patterns found are essential in helping rural communities plan for the future

On April 2 and 3, third year Education students from the University of New England (UNE) visited the local historical site Saumarez homestead. The fieldwork trip was designed to teach Primary Education students how to utilise rich local resources that will help them to teach history under the new Australian Curriculum.

The new Australian curriculum will gradually see each key learning area implement a new syllabus nationwide over the next few years and the social sciences will be taught as separate disciplines in contrast to the current integrated Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) syllabus. UNE is proactively leading the response to the changes by focusing on the relationship between students and local resources and actively looking at how learning at the site will help students meet the outcomes of the new curriculum.

“It is crucial for us to teach students both the current HSIE syllabus and new History and Geography syllabuses to ensure they are ready to implement the new syllabuses after they graduate. Having first-hand experience of fieldwork, the skills needed and how to put these into practice from both a learning and planning perspective should prove invaluable for our social science students in their future careers” commented School of Education lecturer, Madeline Fussell.

The Saumarez site which was established in the 1830s, includes a house, gardens and farming areas all of which remain largely untouched, providing students with an insight into family life, changes in technology and an understanding of the class structure of the time. The fieldwork trip will teach university students how to plan and programme a unit of study as they will simulate the role of primary students and learn firsthand the practicalities involved in leading a local excursion.

“We are extremely grateful to Saumarez for their assistance with this fieldwork and their enthusiasm in setting up an educational program for primary students that meets the requirements of the Australian Curriculum in history and geography” said School of Education lecturer, Kim Porter.

Les Davis, property manager, at Saumarez homestead said; “It is a wonderful opportunity to expose students to Saumarez House – the house, the gardens and farm so they are aware of the richness and diversity the areas offer for studies in history and geography. The partnership with UNE creates awareness that Saumarez exits and this can benefit students both personally and in their future careers.” 

The fieldwork trip was also hailed a success by UNE’s education students who noted that the trip would have huge benefits for students, demonstrating clearly how to make teaching history a hands on experience.

For more information about Saumarez homestead please visit: http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw/SaumarezHomestead

Today marks the culmination of years of hard work for nearly 300 University of New England students, a number of whom are the first to graduate with a qualification new to UNE in the fields of Science, Health and Medicine. 

UNE Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber said that day one of the Autumn graduations in 2013 will see five awards conferred for the first time.  

“Five years ago we started a Joint Medical Program (JMP) with the University of Newcastle and today that partnership marks an important milestone with 46 students graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine,” Professor Barber said.  

“Many of these students have already gained employment in regional and rural referral hospitals across NSW, including in Tamworth, Dubbo, Port Macquarie and Taree.

“Our medical program prides itself on actively recruiting students of Indigenous, regional, rural and remote backgrounds and giving them a practical mix of metropolitan, regional, rural and remote experience.”

Professor Barber said that alongside our medical graduates is our first cohort of graduates from the Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying), Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and Graduate Certificate in Precision Agriculture. 

“UNE is proud to be a regionally-based, globally networked university focussed on research, training and education that is of particular importance to rural and regional communities.

“Today we have demonstrated our commitment to this goal.

“I wish all the graduates every success in their chosen careers and am pleased to welcome them into our alumni,” Professor Barber said. 

Over the next eight days UNE will graduate more than 2000 students, 900 of whom will attend one of the four graduation ceremonies in Armidale.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered a message to the historic UNE graduation celebrations on Friday 5 April to congratulate the first cohort of medical students who have successfully completed their five-year medical degree, the Bachelor of Medicine–Joint Medical Program. UNE and the University of Newcastle jointly offer the highly successful Joint Medical Program (JMP).

Ms Gillard acknowledged the occasion as a ‘wonderful landmark’ of achievement for the graduates and wished them every success. “I know each of you will make an outstanding contribution to our nation and its future. It’s also a landmark in the life of UNE — the first ever graduates from the School of Rural Medicine,” said the Prime Minister.

Professor Victor Minichiello, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of The Professions, oversaw the development of UNE’s School of Rural Medicine. “This day belongs to everyone who played a role in the graduation of these fine men and women who will make a difference to Australia’s medical workforce, and particularly to the determination of these students to reach their aspiration and dream of being responsible and caring doctors. The Prime Minister, like the previous Commonwealth government, has been great supporters of the School of Rural Medicine and the Joint Medical Program, and we thank them for their support,” said Professor Minichiello.

The development of the JMP expands on the long-term commitment of many medical and community stakeholders within the region to improve equity of access to health care for patients and improve health services in rural areas of Australia.

Ms Gillard also congratulated graduates from the School of Science and Technology and the School of Health, including UNE’s first Social Work graduates.

Click to view Prime Minister Gillard’s message to UNE graduates.

The University of New England will be hosting a visit by Australia’s Local Hero Shane Phillips, NSW Young Australian of the Year Corey Payne and the NSW Senior Australian of the Year Ron Allum on Monday 8 April 2013.

The visit, titled the Tour of Honour, will enable the recipients of one of our nation’s most prestigious awards program to meet with university students and staff to share their stories and inspire national pride. The one hour Q&A session (11.45am-12.45pm) will allow students and staff an opportunity to listen to and ask questions of these great Australians.

Shane Phillips has dedicated much of his life to working with young people in child protection, juvenile justice and the law. Currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Tribal Warrior Association Inc, the organisation is passionate about providing quality training for employment skills, empowering youth and extending practical support by distributing food and groceries to struggling families. 

“I was humbled to be named the 2013 Australia’s Local Hero, because there are so many people who deserve this award,” said Shane Phillips.  “I’m particularly excited about the Tour of Honour throughout NSW because it will give me an opportunity to speak directly with young Australians in regional communities about the importance of supporting one another.”

Young Australian of the Year, Corey Payne, shares a similar passion for improving the lives of  young people and believes a visit to the area will provide a great opportunity to learn more about the regional and rural challenges that are faced by young people in securing equal educational opportunities.

“I am honoured to be Australia’s Local Hero for 2013, because I am representing the thousands of Australians who work hard every day to make the lives of their community better in their own special way,” said Shane Phillips.

To register your intent to attend (and to assist with seating), please email events@une.edu.au

UNE is leading the way in preparing their graduates for the workplace with the first workplace learning program (alternate reality gaming environment) developed by UNE accounting lecturer Leopold Bayerlein.

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.

The program features several types of video content and accompanying academic content. This includes topic-specific engagement videos centred on a main case study (lasting from between 1-7 minutes), pre-recorded ‘lectures’ (from a workplace perspective) and previous example database content with questions and step-by-step solutions linked to theory.

This content ensure students meet the same learning outcomes as before in a non-threatening environment – encouraging students to think back to the basics, ask colleagues and friends for help or pose questions using online forums.

The project also assists lecturers to break down barriers and encourages students, particularly international students, to feel comfortable approaching their lecturers without fear of offense.

Leopold Bayerlein says “If students are encouraged to interact with their teacher and feel that questions, comments and feedback are welcome and encouraged they can get so much more out of the course and maximise their learning outcomes.”

Activities, assignments and exams in the program are also presented from the perspective of a workplace. Students will receive weekly emails prompting them to complete online tasks based on the workplace scenario, including things like emails from their supervisor or colleagues.

UNE are currently monitoring student feedback and the learning outcomes achieved by students with hopes to publish findings in peer reviewed academic literature in the second half of 2013. Student testers are currently working through the alternate reality learning environment and feedback has been positive.

On 6 March 2013, The University of New England hosted a showcase event at Booloominbah, to discuss the project, attracting approximately 50 guests from across UNE, the Armidale (and regional) business community and business studies coordinators/career advisors from local high schools.