February 24, 2022

UOW excels at Australian Awards for University Teaching

Academics and programs recognised for outstanding teaching and learning initiatives

The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) excellence in teaching and learning has been recognised in the annual Australian Awards for University Teaching.

In a virtual announcement released yesterday (Wednesday, 23 February), UOW received four national Citations and one Program Award, acknowledging exceptional work. 

Four UOW lecturers and teams were honoured with a prestigious Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning: Jade Kennedy, from Woolyungah Indigenous Centre; Lauren Richardson, the Librarian at UOW’s Sydney Business School; the academic team behind CABLE (Chinese Academic Business Learning and Education), from the Faculty of Business and Law; and Associate Professor Troy Heffernan, from the Faculty of Business and Law.

Associate Professor Heffernan, CABLE, and Ms Richardson were all awarded in the category of Business, Management and Commerce, while Mr Kennedy was honoured in the Multidisciplinary category. The Citations recognise and reward the diversity of contributions made by individuals and teams to the quality of students learning.

The Jindaola program, led by Jade Kennedy, also received a highly competitive Award for Programs that Enhance Learning, which recognise programs and services that make innovative and outstanding contributions to student learning outcomes and the quality of the student experience.

Professor Theo Farrell, UOW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Life), congratulated the recipients on their success in the prestigious awards.

“I am thrilled to see UOW have such strong representation in the Australian Awards for University Teaching,” Professor Farrell said.

“We are proud of our teaching and learning at UOW and our fantastic academic staff have an indelible impact on the lives of their students, so it is wonderful to have this acknowledged on the national stage.”

“My warmest congratulations to all the nominees and winners in the Australian Awards for University Teaching, and thank you for your tireless efforts to help others and transform higher education.”

The Australian Awards for University Teaching were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward programs and practices that enhance students’ learning experience, recognise the outstanding efforts made by educators and the impact they have on students’ learning and teaching outcomes.

Award for Programs that Enhance Learning

 

Jindaola

UOW’s ground-breaking Jindaola was one of only four educational programs in Australia to receive the award. Jade Kennedy, a proud Yuin man, has spearheaded the creation and implementation of Jindaola, which works with interdisciplinary groups from across UOW’s faculties, schools and business units to embed Indigenous knowledges and perspectives into the curriculum.

Jinadola was cited in the Curriculum Transformation and Innovative Pedagogy category, with the team comprising Mr Kennedy, Ms Brondalie Martin, Dr Janine Delahunty, Ms Catherine Moyle, Dr Alisa Percy,  and Dr Lisa Thomas. Since its inception in 2017, Jindaola has worked with close to 200 participants across the University’s staff and students.

 

Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

 

CABLE

Dr Kevin Huang, Dr Jin Cui, Associate Professor Corinne Cortese, and Associate Professor Xiaofei Pan are the faculty-support behind Chinese Academic Business Learning and Education (CABLE), a UOW club founded by students in 2010. The staff play a fundamental role in engaging with students on an academic and social level, providing a more rewarding and enriching university experience for members and helping students to improve their cultural competency, communication and leadership. Dr Huang and the team from the Faculty of Business and Law, have been recognised as award recipients for their commitment to and support of CABLE and its members.  

Lauren Richardson

Ms Richardson received a Citation for her immense contribution to the student learning experience at UOW’s Sydney Business School. As the sole librarian at UOW’s Sydney Business School, Ms Richardson is committed to supporting students, and enabling them to achieve through creative approaches to teaching and learning. Ms Richardson has implemented an Embedded Librarian approach, ensuring students use library services as an integral part of their learning and assessment preparation. This has been particularly successful among students who have undertaking to postgraduate courses after many years away from study.

 

Associate Professor Troy Heffernan

Associate Professor Heffernan was recognised for his passion for and commitment to his students, and to the discipline of marketing as a whole, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He was cited in the category of Approaches to Teaching and the Support of Learning that Influence, Motivate, and Inspire Students to Learn’. In addition, Associate Professor Heffernan is a strong support of his fellow colleagues, always willing to mentor and motivate, creating an overall positive environment within his school.

Jade Kennedy

Mr Kennedy, the driving force behind the Jindaola program at UOW, was also recognised with a citation for his immense impact on the social, academic and cultural experience at the University. Mr Kennedy has played an integral role in leading the University’s reconciliation journey and in developing a culture that values and respects the knowledges and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.