UQ Teaching Fellowship improves student experience

Associate Professor Andrew Hindmoor and Dr Greg Marston have advanced teaching and learning practices at UQ as part of The University of Queensland's Teaching Fellowship Scheme.

Associate Professor Hindmoor and Dr Marston are both from the University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS).

The inaugural UQ Fellowship Scheme aims to support emerging leaders in teaching and learning to undertake a program of activities that aligns with the University’s strategic priorities and develops their personal skills and academic profile.

As teaching Fellows, Associate Professor Hindmoor and Dr Marston were required to identify a teaching and learning issue within their Faculty or discipline, and show leadership in promoting and enhancing teaching and learning at UQ.

The Fellowship was undertaken over a period of six months.

Associate Professor Hindmoor, from the School of Political Science and International Studies, used his Fellowship time to develop a course that mimics the induction training of a Policy Officer within the state government.

He also conducted comparative research on the nature and scale of internship programs within political science across Australia.

“The aim of my project was to teach a larger range of undergraduate students about the fundamentals of the policy process and enhance the employment-ready status of our graduates," he said.

“I am pleased to announce that that the undergraduate course has now been accredited by both the Faculties of Arts and SBS and will be taught for the first time in the second semester of 2011.”

Dr Marston, from the School of Social Work and Human Services, set about developing a better understanding of the key factors in first year student attrition within the SBS Faculty.

“Student attrition and retention is a major issue experienced by many universities," he said.

"I wanted to investigate why students were withdrawing from courses and programs within the Faculty.

“In terms of results; the main impact of the fellowship is yet to be realised, as testing has extended into next year.

"However, one of the immediate impacts of the study has highlighted a connection between student poverty and student welfare and attrition.”

Associate Professor Hindmoor and Dr Marston were two of five UQ academics awarded the UQ Teaching Fellowship.

The SBS Faculty has been successful in the 2011 round of Fellowships, with Associate Professor Karen Moni, from the School of Education, securing a place.

Media: Helen Burdon (Marketing and Communications Manager, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences) 3346 9279, h.burdon@uq.edu.au