In brief
UniSA wins Business SA Export Award
For the fourth time since its inception in 2001, UniSA has won the Business SA Export Award in the competitive Education Adelaide education award category, (the University of Adelaide received a commendation). The awards recognise SA’s most successful and innovative exporters, who were honoured last month at the Business SA annual dinner. Dr Anna Ciccarelli, Executive Director and Vice President: International and Development, congratulated all who contributed to the achievement. "Not only our international marketing, recruitment and admissions staff in our units and Division offices but also our academic colleagues, particularly program directors contribute to our efforts both onshore and in transnational programs. This is very much a collective achievement," she says. "International education is about so much more than money. It is about generating individual opportunity and community benefit, as well as contributing to intercultural understanding between countries. Having said that, this award places the University in the top 50 South Australian exporters group and recognises the importance of international education services to the state."
Sri Lankan program delivery
Sri Lankan students have better prospects of studying mechanical and electrical engineering following the recent signing of an agreement between UniSA and the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC). From next year, CINEC will deliver the first two years of undergraduate programs in the Schools of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering (AME) and Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) in Sri Lanka. Students will complete their final two years of study at the Mawson Lakes campus. Peter Bardadyn, AME business development manager, says the agreement boosts tertiary education opportunities for Sri Lankan students who may otherwise have no realistic way of achieving their academic goals.
Understanding India
UniSA has consolidated strong relationships with educational partners in Tamil Nadu by resigning a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Madras and establishing two new MOUs with Madras Christian College and Anna University. The memoranda will spearhead more student and staff exchange programs between the universities and more intense research collaborations across a range of disciplines from urban and regional planning to social work and social policy. UniSA has just secured a total of $122,500 through the Endeavour Student Exchange Program for student exchange scholarships in 2007. The funding with bring 18 Indian students to study at UniSA and send four SA students to Tamil Nadu for one semester of their degree studies. In addition UniSA has allocated almost $40,000 to help Indian students with the cost of airfares and living expenses.
Combined UK Alumni Chapter
Some 150 members of the Combined UK Chapter of the South Australian Alumni Associations attended Fusion, an evening of wine tasting and food at London’s Australia House in September. It was the last event as UniSA alumni president of the combined UK chapter for Geoff Turner, whose dedication to developing the chapter and involvement with the UniSA alumni was acknowledged in a speech by SA’s Agent General, Maurice de Rohan OBE (see story this page). The new joint Alumni President is longstanding committee member Dennis Muirhead, a consultant lawyer and mediator. Among the guests at the annual foodie extravaganza – which this year featured a six-course flight of canapés and matching wines from Leabrook Estate and Longview Vineyard – were UniSA’s Dr Anna Ciccarelli, Executive Director and Vice President: International and Development, and Manager: Alumni and Development office, Yvonne Clark..
Supported Teacher Awards
The 2006 Supported Teacher Awards were announced by Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Lee at the UniSA forum Spotlight on Good Practice on October 26 at the Mercury Cinema. The Supported Teacher Awards recognise academic staff who achieved a high performance in teaching, as determined by the 2005 Student Evaluation of Teaching data. The 62 winners received a certificate of recognition and eligible staff received $1000 to be used for further professional development to improve teaching. The full list of 2006 recipients is available at www.unisa.edu.au/staff/grants/default.asp
International acclaim for Scarino
UniSA expert in languages and culture, Angela Scarino has just won an international award acknowledging her enormous contribution to language education. Bestowed by the worldwide association, Federation Internationale de Professeurs de Langues Vivantes or the International Federation for Teachers of Languages, it was presented by Federation president, Denis Cunningham, in recognition of outstanding services to languages education. For Scarino this completes a hat-trick. She won the state languages education award in 2003 and the national equivalent in 2004. Now Director of UniSA’s Research Centre for Languages and Cultures Education, she has worked for 25 years in the conceptualisation, design, implementation and evaluation of curriculum and assessment across all levels of education, and across languages, locally, nationally and internationally. She continues to lead top-flight research into the synergy between language education and cultural understanding.
Engineering excellence award
UniSA Civil Engineering graduate (2002), John Dyson, won the 2006 Young Professional Engineer Award at the South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards on September 29. President of Engineers Australia, South Australia Division, Mark Skanes, commended Dyson for his professional achievements and service to the community. "John is an outstanding young engineer who has been project leader for works in excess of $300 million in value. He has actively contributed to the community through more than five years of service with the South Australian Country Fire Service and is also involved in a number of projects to encourage school children to consider engineering as a profession," Skanes said. Dyson will compete in the national awards this month.
Mental Health Week
For the first time, Mental Health Week (October 9 to 13) was officially celebrated at UniSA with a series of events across the four metropolitan campuses. Adiemus Seah, counsellor and event organiser, says the University community really supported the activities. "We wanted to play our part in dispelling the myths and reducing the stigma around mental health issues," Seah says. "Some 75 per cent of mental health issues begin before the age of 25, and with so many of our students in that age bracket, it’s important for us to promote healthy lifestyles and behaviours. "Highlights included the discussions around the screening of a number of award-winning short films on mental health issues, and a good attendance at the mental health resource exhibition. Seah says the campaign successfully promoted cross-disciplinary collaboration within the University and established effective working relationships with external service providers such as the Mental Health Coalition, the Mental Health Resource Centre and Beyond Blue.
Benn wins Margaret Tobin Award
In
October, UniSA graduate Erica Benn won the Margaret Tobin Award for
Excellence in Mental Health (media category), for her work in producing the
radio series Changing Perspectives. The program, co-produced by Victoria
George and Adam Rossetto, documents and explores first-hand insights into
young Australians living with mental illness. "Young people are experiencing
job loss, housing problems and stigma. And that’s just the beginning," said
Benn. The South Australian Minister for Mental Health, Gail Gago, presented
the award at a celebration held during the launch of Mental Health Week. The
trio were commended for promoting positive mental health by reporting on
mental issues in a balanced and respectful way.