Melbourne was named the Best Student City in Australia (and second best globally) in the QS Best Student Cities 2016 ranking. But why?

1. Most liveable city: Melbourne was ranked the world’s most liveable city The Economist’s liveability rankings for a fifth consecutive year in 2015.
2. Mix of people: Melbourne is a multicultural city. Within the index, Melbourne has the highest score in the “student mix” category – calculated based on the relative size and diversity of each city’s student population,

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The next generation of rechargeable lithium batteries set to disrupt the electric vehicle industry may soon be here, thanks to the humble salt bath.

CSIRO scientists, in collaboration with RMIT University and QUT, have demonstrated that pre-treating a battery’s lithium metal electrodes with an electrolyte salt solution extends the battery life and increases performance and safety.

The research, “Stabilizing lithium metal using ionic liquids for long-lived batteries”, was published recently in Nature Communications. …

Griffith – Creative Arts Research Centre Explores New Creative Modes

The Griffith Centre for Creative Arts Research (GCCAR) is shaking up research methods and processes within the creative arts.

With a cross-disciplinary approach and collaborative focus, the Centre’s areas of strength include: studio research methods and approaches, art in the Asia-Pacific region, additive manufacture and contemporary design, documentary film and photography, games, animation and new technology, and art in public places. …

From helping a student get to that “light bulb” moment to helping shape the lives of the next generation – teaching is a challenging but incredibly rewarding profession.

As a teacher, you’ll face a myriad of competing demands but for every challenge you face, there’s an equal or greater reward.

As you enter a profession that has the ability to impact the lives of others, you also take part in a career that is full of meaning. …

Professor Louis Schofield, Director of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University (JCU) in North Queensland has received a $2.8M grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to pursue the pre-clinical development of a vaccine aimed at the goal of malaria eradication.

The research will be conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, and other colleagues and institutions in the USA. …

ACU students have expressed higher overall satisfaction with teaching, learning and skills development than students at other Australian universities, according to a national survey.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching’s (QILT’s) 2015 Student Experience Survey (SES), published on Tuesday 10 May, demonstrates that ACU students scored the University more highly than the sector average in all key areas surveyed.

ACU student satisfaction improved in 2015 for four of five focus areas. …

Griffith University has been awarded six Australian Research Council Linkage Project grants worth more than $1.3 million for a variety of research studies.

Associate Professor Keith Townsend, Dr Rebecca Loudoun and Professor Adrian Wilkinson were awarded $186,000 for their project Improving People Management Systems in Emergency Services. The project will be undertaken in partnership with United Voice Queensland, United Voice Northern Territory and the Ambulance Employees’ Association of South Australia. …

How can you prepare for your dream job while juggling final-year studies? Graduate Paige De Vanny shares her experiences.

The Bachelor of Design (Animation and Interactive Media) alumnus recently landed her dream job at Weta Digital, one of the world’s leading visual effects companies based in New Zealand.

The Oscar winning company is responsible for bringing to life performance-driven digital characters like Gollum (The Lord of the Rings) and Smaug (The Hobbit), …

Organisation

It should come as no surprise no matter what you study that organisation is crucial, particularly for those studying remotely. Studying by online or by correspondence can be difficult, but if you are disorganised you are setting yourself up for a particularly challenging time.

Planning for when things are due is the first step and knowing how long it takes you to complete certain tasks is what makes the difference. If you know it takes two days to complete 4000 words, …

Flinders University’s Award Winning Plaza

Lendlease, the contractor behind Flinders University’s remarkable new Plaza and Student Hub, has been recognised in the Australian Institute of Building’s 2016 SA Excellence in Building Awards.

Flinders University congratulates Matthew Gooding, the project’s Construction Manager, and his team who took home the Professional Excellence Award for their role in the redevelopment, recognising an outstanding effort to transform the Bedford Park campus in just a little over a year. …