Three Macquarie University academics have been recognised in the 2017 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, presented by the Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Dr Kira Westaway, Dr Neil Harrison and Corrinne Sullivan (formerly Franklin) have all been honoured for their exceptional contributions to the quality of student learning over a sustained period.

From the Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr Kira Westaway has received one of the awards for the creation of effective earth science learning environments that support different learning styles, …

Institute of Technology Carlow this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Top 100 World University ranked McMaster University in Canada that will see designCORE, the Institute’s design-led research hub, assist and facilitate a greater design-thinking approach by the Ontario-based university and help position McMaster at the very forefront of global research in the science of healthcare and aging.

An academic team from MIRA (McMaster Institute for Research on Aging), an institute of McMaster University, …

Student satisfaction guaranteed

Bangor offers a unique university experience. From a stunning location close to the mountains and the sea to a world-class research facilities and quality teaching, you’ll find the ideal environment to unlock your potential and go beyond all expectations.

Bangor students are amongst the most satisfied in the UK

The National Student Survey (NSS) results reflects the University’s focus on overall student experience. The results – released August 2016 – places Bangor:

• amongst the UK’s top 15 universities for student satisfaction*
• 4th in the UK and top in Wales for academic support

Further analysis of the data shows Bangor University is in the top 20 in the UK for both teaching and assessment and feedback. …

Three academics from UniSA’s Division of Health Sciences have been recognised on the national stage for their outstanding teaching achievements.

Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning are awarded through a highly competitive process by the Commonwealth Government’s Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT).

Midwifery Program Director Dr Lois McKellar and Lecturer Cathy Kempster were acknowledged for leading the development of a sustainable model of tailored support and innovative resources to enhance the clinical learning experience for midwifery students. …

The University of Dundee has been named Scottish University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for a second consecutive year.

Dundee has been hailed for excellent teaching quality and student experience, being placed in the top ten in the UK for both key measures in the Good University Guide analysis. The Guide also noted the strength of research at the University and the institution’s economic, …

A team of QAA reviewers visited the university and judged that it has effective arrangements for securing academic standards and enhancing the student learning experience.

The positive review identified a number of examples of good practice. These include:

• The proactive approach RGU takes to establishing strong relationships with employers and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies for the benefit of students. These relationships complement the curriculum, are recognised and valued by staff and students,

…

The ‘secret lives’ of South Australia’s white sharks is set to be revealed by a new research project led by one of Australia’s prominent shark researchers, Flinders University’s Dr Charlie Huveneers.

The leader of the Southern Shark Ecology Group, Dr Huveneers is specifically looking at white shark predatory strategies and whether shark cage-diving affects the behaviour of sharks at South Australia’s Neptune Islands, the only location where white shark cage-diving takes place in Australia. …

PhD candidate Stephanie Holm has been announced as the recipient of the prestigious Children’s Literature Fellowship from the State Library of Victoria.

Miss Holm, PhD candidate in the field of Natural History Illustration, will receive funding to develop a graphic novel exploring representations of Australian fauna and flora in early Australian children’s book publishing.

“I’m incredibly excited and elated to have this opportunity. Illustrating and books are two of my greatest interests, …

Mobile phone technology could be a lifeline for young people at risk of obesity

Mobile phones could be the golden ticket to halting weight gain and improving health in young Australians, according to new research from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

Researchers designed a world-first mobile phone intervention for young people at risk of obesity which used text messages, a mobile phone app, emails, diet resources and personalised coaching calls. …

The world’s most commonly used Type 2 diabetes drug, Metformin, may be ‘repurposed’ to treat non-diabetic conditions according to researchers from the University of Dundee.

The international study led by Professor Chim Lang and Dr Graham Rena at the Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at Dundee suggests that there is now strong evidence that the drug exhibits an anti-inflammatory action which may prove significant in non-diabetic cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation is understood to contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) but existing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown limited utility in CVD treatment. …