Each of these scholarships is worth up to $67,000 and will fund study travel for our students to destinations in the Indo-Pacific region. Amarina Smith was selected as the National Colombo Plan Fellow for Hong Kong as the highest ranked scholar for this location. She is also the first Indigenous NCP scholar.
Workplace Equality
And as advised in early November, the University was once again awarded a Workplace Gender Equality Agency Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation. The University is extremely proud of its achievements in being awarded the citation initially as an Employer of Choice for Women from 2001 and now as Employer of Choice for Gender Equality since its inception in 2014. This achievement showcases our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the Griffith community.
These outcomes are a reminder of the incredible talent that lies at the heart of Griffith – in our researchers, teachers, professional staff, students and alumni. As Vice Chancellor, it was wonderful to see over two thousand staff attending end-of-year events and campus briefing sessions where we have been able to join together to share some of the great stories that have made up the year. I was pleased once again to be able to play Bob Dylan’s Christmas album as the soundtrack to my end of year campus lunches. First released in 2009, it just seems to get better and better. I am always surprised at how rarely it is played.
Griffith Lecture – Peter Greste
Although the year may be winding down, you would never know it by looking at the events calendar in recent weeks. Perhaps the highlight for me was an exceptional Griffith Lecture delivered by acclaimed journalist Peter Greste on 4 December. Peter’s speech on ‘Free Speech in the Age of Terror’ was skillfully crafted and compellingly presented, managing to engage in an intelligent way with the complex issues facing free speech in the modern world. To view this thought-provoking lecture, see the link above.
As a University with a deep commitment to equity and social justice, Griffith was privileged to host a symposium titled ‘The True Impacts of Domestic Violence’ on 25 November. The symposium, which was opened by The Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP, Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, provided an opportunity to engage with staff, students and community members on the impacts of domestic and family violence within the workplace and wider community.
Earlier in the same week, the University launched a Domestic and Family Violence website. The site features a number of research contributions by Griffith’s academic staff and students, and provides an overview of support services available to members of the Griffith community, both on and off campus. The University is also playing a key leadership role on the State Government’s Queensland Family and Child Commission Advisory Council with Griffith representatives including Deputy Chancellor Rachel Hunter DUniv, Professor Lesley Chenoweth AO, Professor Clare Tilbury and Ms Zoe Rathus AM.
Wayne Goss Centre
On 8December, the Chancellor and I were privileged to join Roisin Goss and family to celebrate the official naming of the Information Services Centre on our Logan campus as The Wayne Goss Centre. While Premier of Queensland from 1989-1996, Wayne Goss was determined to establish a university campus in Logan to provide higher education services for Logan residents and surrounding districts in the fast growing Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor. The 56ha Meadowbrook site was purchased by the Goss government for the University and the government provided significant funds towards the establishment of the Logan campus, which was opened in 1998.By renaming the Information Services Centre as the Wayne Goss Centre, the University acknowledges Wayne Goss’s contributions to the Logan community and his life time of extraordinary service to the people of Queensland and Australia.
Other highlights for the month included two Griffith alumni – Tie Song and Darren Burns – winning 2015 Australia-China Alumni Awards, Professor Andrew Kirkpatrick being elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, Professor Kathleen Daly being awarded the Distinguished Criminologist Award (as well as the Christine M Alder Book Award) at the 2015 Australian New Zealand Society of Criminology conference, and the presentation of two University 2015 Internationalisation Awards – one to Dr Allen Huang to recognise the most outstanding contribution to Griffith’s overall internationalisation, and the other to Professor Jean-Marc Hero to recognise the most outstanding contribution to short term global mobility programs. Congratulations to Tie, Darren, Andrew, Kathleen, Allen and Jean-Marc on their significant achievements.
Incoming elite athletes beginning studies at Griffith University in 2016 will have the chance to benefit from a new scholarship linked with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The prestigious Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Scholarships will offer National Sporting Organisation-recognised athletes an opportunity to be part of the Games delivery and experience Australia’s largest sporting event from a special perspective.
Griffith Sports College Manager, and former Olympian, Duncan Free OAM said it would be a unique experience to be involved in the delivery of the games, particularly if students have their sights set on competing at GC2018 as well.
“Competing at a home Games is amazing. I had the opportunity to do it in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics,” he said.
“Your home crowd, your home environment, your home training facility it is really good. The whole city gets behind you.
“For some of our students to have this experience combined with a scholarship will be an incredible opportunity.”
Griffith is one of Australia’s leading sporting Universities and supports elite athletes through the Griffith Sports College, which currently has 400 members.
“We take pride in supporting athletes to achieve not only their sporting success but also their academic success as well,” Mr Free said.
Incoming students studying degrees such as Exercise Science like Louisa Marmion can apply for the scholarships.
The other scholarship category is open to students like Louisa Marmion, who is in her first year of studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Pre-physio). Other study areas eligible for this scholarship include sports science and technology, tourism, major events management or broadcast sports journalism.
Louisa said any new student lucky enough to be selected to receive a scholarship which offered such a range of exciting opportunities would be setting themselves up for amazing success.
“As an aspiring physiotherapist I can see how this would be a perfect opportunity for any student, their resume and their future career,” she said.
“To have the opportunity to put their studies into practice is one thing but to do this at an international sporting event with athletes, trainers and health staff from around the world would be unbelievable.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Ian O’Connor said the University was proud to offer these unprecedented scholarship opportunities to students.
“Griffith University will play an integral part in the build-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games and today’s launch of the legacy scholarships is a demonstration of this commitment and involvement,” he said.
“As a leading university for the Gold Coast we are dedicated to fostering opportunities and extending possibilities for students close to home and across the Commonwealth. I look forward to meeting the successful students who will have so much to gain from this truly unprecedented opportunity.
“The Commonwealth Games represents a transformative moment in time for the Gold Coast and, in a similar vein, I know these prestigious scholarships have the potential to transform the lives and ambitions of the recipients.”
David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation said the scholarships would offer an unprecedented opportunity to not only study at a leading University but to be part of the delivery of the biggest event Australia will stage in more than a decade.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Griffith University to leverage from its partnership with GC2018 and in doing so to engage with communities across the Commonwealth sharing the Games message. It is also a chance to enjoy a once-in-a-generation education experience like no other.”
The scholarships are open to students from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories who wish to undertake study or research at Griffith in a sport or event-related area as an undergraduate, post-graduate or higher degree by research student.
There are two categories, which students can apply for:
Griffith University and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Scholarship; and
Griffith University and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Sporting Excellence Scholarship
Each scholarship will include full tuition fee waiver, accommodation and a contribution towards education expenses. The value of each scholarship will vary depending on the degree of study but on average could be worth about$70,000 each.
The partnership between Griffith University and GOLDOC was announced on October 6 this year.
The partnership with Griffith will also see students offered internships, graduates offered employment and the Queen’s Baton Relay will pass through Gold Coast and Nathan campuses.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor officially opened the Wayne Goss Centre in memory of the former Queensland premier at Logan campus this week.
Mr Goss, Queensland Premier from 1989-1996, was instrumental in the development of the Logan campus which opened in 1998.
“Wayne personally led the charge to have the Logan campus built when the whole higher education sector in Australia was going through a period of tumultuous change, and he convinced the Commonwealth Government to join with the State in funding it,’’ Professor O’Connor said.
“At the time, there was a high level of unmet demand for university places in the Logan and Gold Coast regions, and he was a champion for opening up educational opportunities and increasing University attainment rates for Logan residents and surrounding districts in the fast growing Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor.”
Wayne’s wife Roisin was in attendance and thanked the University of behalf of the Goss family for ‘this tremendous honour’.
“Wayne considered this campus to be of great importance to the university.”
The Goss government purchased the 56ha Meadowbrook site for Griffith University and provided significant funds towards establishing the Logan campus.
In 2003, Mr Goss was conferred Griffith’s honorary degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community.
“Under his leadership as Premier, Wayne’s Government did many things to advance education as well as the development of the Logan campus,’’ Professor O’Connor said.
“These included new schools, the investigation of a modern and broader curriculum, moving nursing education into universities and expanding the teaching of languages other than English.”
As Queensland Premier, Wayne also oversaw extensive economic and institutional change including the passage of the new Public Service Act which transformed the Queensland public service. He instituted the reforms recommended by the Fitzgerald Inquiry, decriminalised homosexuality and introduced electoral reform. He also introduced initiatives in areas such as health and the environment.
Pro Vice Chancellor Logan campus, Professor Lesley Chenoweth AO, said the Logan campus enjoyed a deep engagement with its community — schools, community agencies, business and government.
“It is through these relationships that Logan campus can further its mission to build aspiration, and widen participation in education for members of the community.
“To be a community campus you have to open the doors and welcome everyone to the university. Logan campus and indeed this Wayne Goss Centre hosts many university and community events and conferences.
“And you have to agree it is a beautiful campus of which I am sure Wayne would be proud.”
Chancellor Henry Smerdon AM DUniv and Ms Goss unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally recognise the renaming of the building.
Like the successful BeachCare program run by the Centre, DuneWatch will foster community engagement to monitor, maintain and record the condition of dunes at 10 locations from Rainbow Bay to Paradise Point.
DuneWatch program leader Ms Maggie Muurmans says activities will include beach profiling, biodiversity surveys, analysis of human disturbance and other factors affecting dune health and coastal protection.
“Ideally the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management wants to set up a database to share findings throughout Australia,” says Ms Muurmans.
“The aim is to develop a blueprint for a national program geared to understanding what is happening with our dunes and informing any action that might need to be taken.
“Griffith’s BeachCare initiative has ably demonstrated what can be achieved when community groups come together to work with scientists and really take ownership of their local beaches.”
DuneWatch activities will take place at a different Gold Coast location from 9-11am every Saturday morning and participants are asked to wear enclosed shoes, sun smart clothing and to bring a bottle of water. All other equipment will be supplied.
Matthew Marny’s winning entry in the adult category of the My Beach, My Backyard photography competition
Meanwhile, the capacity for the Gold Coast’s natural coastline to inspire artistic creativity can be seen in the My Beach, My Backyard photography exhibition showing daily from 9am-4pm until December 18 at the headquarters of the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management on the Gold Coast campus.
Blake Doupain’s winning entry in the teenage category
Launched in July and with categories of Flora, Fauna, Beaches and Coastal Engineering, the GCCM received 60 entries that were judged by professional photographers
Angie Zhou’s winning entry in the child photography category
David Mahay and Simone Capridossi, and the Centre’s Nikos Penaranda.
Winners were Matthew Marny (adult), Blake Doupain (teenage) and Angie Zhou (child).
Griffith University mechanical engineering graduate Jack Anderson enjoyed a thrilling view of big-time motorsport when he was granted a pit-side perspective of the Castrol GC600 V8 Supercars event on the Gold Coast in October.
Now the leader of the Griffith Racing Team is preparing for his own racing challenge starting today (December 10) at the 2015 Formula SAE-Australasia student engineering competition at Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway.
Specifically tailored for engineering students, Formula SAE is centred on the design, construction and racing of an internal combustion or electric race car up to 600cc/80kW. The competition presents students with the opportunity to develop their skills in design, management, manufacturing, communication, research and business operations.
The Griffith Racing Team’s vehicle — christened Nara, for “not another risk assessment” — is powered by a 600cc/60HP Honda motorcycle engine and has a six-speed sequential gearbox, a track-limited top speed of 125kmh and is capable of going from 0-100kmh in 3.6 seconds.
The Griffith Racing Team with Jack Anderson behind the wheel and, from left, Sean Lowndes, Reece Schmith, Jake Werninghaus, Daniel Schulte-Loh and Ben Jackson
Along with Jack, the Griffith Racing Team comprises School of Engineering students Sean Lowndes (technical assistant), Reece Schmith (safety systems), Ben Jackson (technical director), Jake Werninghaus (engine drive line) and Daniel Schulte-Loh (head of design).
“Racing teams from universities all over Australia and New Zealand will be at Calder and the competition involves acceleration, skidpan, autocross and endurance challenges,” says Gold Coaster Jack, 21, who will be behind the wheel for the acceleration and endurance categories.
“I was immediately drawn to the design and construction credentials of the Formula SAE concept and it’s been a fantastic outlet for me.
“As well as the mechanical engineering practical experience, I’ve learned so much about research, sponsorship, health and safety, managing finances and more.
“I’ve also learned that engineering is more than maths and science. It’s about new ways of thinking. Griffith has a strong focus on engineering intuition.”
Jack’s motorsport connection will continue after graduation when he joins Gold Coast company PWR Performance Products, a world-leader in high performance cooling solutions for race categories including Formula 1, NASCAR, V8 Supercars and the World Rally Championship.
The 2015 Formula SAE-A student engineering competition runs until Sunday.
Griffith’s School of Nursing and Midwifery is celebrating following the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2015 results which rated its Nursing discipline a “5” for showing well above world standard research.
Compiled by the Australian Research Council, ERA rates research areas 1-5 based on their level of excellence, with 5 being the highest.
In the previous two ERAs, Nursing at Griffith University gained a “4” (above world standard) rating.
“This fantastic result is a clear demonstration of the high quality research that the school is undertaking,” says newly-appointed Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery Professor Debra Anderson.
She cites the work of Professor of Nursing, Claire Rickard, which looks at improving the experience for cancer patients undergoing treatment and which has received $1.1m in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.
“It is thanks to people such as this, and many more besides, that our School can provide clear examples of research which has a strong focus on optimising healthy outcomes within the wider community.”
Multiple campuses
Professor Anderson also highlights Griffith’s unique position with multiple campuses in South East Queensland.
“Particularly with midwifery for example, we are able to show strong research impacts across the health and wellbeing of a range of demographic groups including migrants, mothers and children and low socio-economic areas. It’s an exciting reach that we are able to take advantage of.
“ERA reflects all staff in a discipline,” adds Professor Anderson. “While we have many international research leaders, this significant achievement of moving from a “4” to a “5” reflects the important contributions of our mid and early career researchers.
“This result not only demonstrates our success but will stand us well in attracting quality students and building our reputation within the nursing and health arena, both nationally and internationally.
“On behalf of the professoriate, we would like to congratulate all staff, and in particular the early and mid career researchers, who have helped nursing achieve a “5”. It is a great recognition for all of us.”
As preparations continue for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, world-leading experts in urban policy, infrastructure, planning, business, politics, education and the environment are in the city for this week’s 2015 State of Australian Cities National Conference.
The December 9-11 summit features workshops, addresses, launches and a PhD symposium, and comes at an exciting time for the Gold Coast and South-East Queensland.
“We are living in the fastest growing metropolitan region in Australia and there are many challenges around city planning, building and transport infrastructure, environmental needs and more,” says Professor Paul Burton, Chair of the Conference Organising Committee and Acting Director of Griffith University’s Urban Research Program.
“The calibre of people at this conference will inform, engage and enhance perspectives of the future of Australia’s cities.
“This is particularly relevant for the Gold Coast as the city negotiates the practical, political, ethical and economic issues arising in the lead-up to, and then beyond, the Commonwealth Games.”
Guest speakers include:
The Honourable Mr Jamie Briggs MP, newly appointed Federal Minster for Cities and the Built Environment;
The Honourable Mr Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for the Commonwealth Games, and Transport;
Dr Elizabeth Taylor, Vice Chancellor’s Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT;
Dr Tim Williams, CEO of the Committee for Sydney and former special advisor on urban development, governance, city strategy and planning to five UK cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London.
Ms Kirsty Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Professor Adrian Franklin, of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Tasmania;
Professor Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney.
Griffith University has taken out the 2015 Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year.
Islamic Studies teacher, Associate Professor Halim Rane, shared the honour with Associate Professor Kevin Tant from Monash University when the Minister for Education and Training, Simon Birmingham, made the announcement on Tuesday night.
Griffith lecturers also claimed two AAUT Teaching Excellence Awards last night, with Dr Caryl Bosman from the School of Environment and Dr Peter Denney from the School of Humanities named.
Griffith University is the first to have three recipients of the prestigious prize since it was first presented in 1997. Professor Keithia Wilson was previously named the 2007 recipient.
Speaking from Turkey, Associate Professor Rane paid tribute to the role of students in his success.
“My focus has always been on my students and the skills and knowledge they need to be competent in the field of Islam-West relations and beyond.
“It is my students who I thank first and foremost for this award. They are my key source of inspiration and motivation. Student learning outcomes have driven me to innovate in respect to my teaching.”
“It is an incredible honour to receive this award, though it was completely unexpected,” he said.
“It is also reassuring to have this acknowledged at such a level of higher education in Australia with such a prestigious award.
“I cannot imagine this achievement without the ongoing support of my colleagues and the leadership at Griffith University who recognise the importance of the field in which I teach and value my contributions to it.”
Halim Rane has developed a suite of Islamic Studies with a contemporary, secular focus on Islam-West relations since joining Griffith in 2008, when no Islamic Studies courses were on offer.
The courses address the interests and needs of non-Muslim students, as well as Western-born Muslims. Graduating students have an understanding of, and the capacity to engage with, Muslim communities and the Muslim world.
A central plank of the course is the annual Muslim World Study Tour to Malaysia, Turkey, Spain and Morocco which offers students a first-hand opportunity to engage with a diversity of people, cultures and societies with deep roots in Islamic civilisation.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor, Professor Ian O’Connor, congratulated Associate Professor Rane on a remarkable achievement. “This award recognises not only the quality teaching at Griffith University but also its important influence in preparing students for life after university,” Professor O’Connor said.
“The innovative and insightful approach to teaching demonstrated by Associate Professor Rane has been outstanding, and this reward is a fitting tribute.
“To be acknowledged in this way for a second year in succession by the Office of Learning and Teaching is a landmark moment for Griffith University and confirms us as one of the country’s best teaching universities.”
Griffith University consistently ranks close to or at the top of Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) citations, awards and fellowship schemes. Since 2010, Griffith is the leading university in the country for OLT Citations and OLT Fellowships, and sits at number four in the OLT Awards listings.
This outstanding success was maintained with Dr Caryl Bosman and Dr Peter Denney acknowledged.
Dr Bosman received an AAUT Teaching Excellence Award for the Priority Area for 2015 — High impact intervention for progression, retention and attainment.
Dr Bosman has driven significant improvements in her students’ academic engagement, performance and retention by designing, implementing and evaluating an effective “quality at scale” Studio Pedagogy in the Planning discipline. Dr Bosman also received an OLT Citation this year.
Dr Peter Denney received an AAUT Teaching Excellence Award in the Early Career category. Dr Denney is an innovative and engaging early career academic in the discipline of History who has taught courses across first-year, undergraduate, honours and postgraduate levels.
His teaching is motivated by the belief that knowledge of the historical context of current issues enables transformative learning and students to see those issues in entirely new ways.
The 2015 University Teacher of the Year has highlighted the role of students in the success.
On Tuesday night he became the second Griffith lecturer in succession to be named the country’s top teacher, when he shared the honour with Monash University’s Kevin Tant.
Associate Professor Rane followsin the academic footsteps of Griffith’s Associate Professor Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, the 2014 recipient.
“My focus has always been on my students and the skills and knowledge they need to be competent in the field of Islam-West relations and beyond. It is my students who I thank first and foremost for this award. They are my key source of inspiration and motivation.
“Student learning outcomes have driven me to innovate in respect to my teaching. While its effectiveness has been proven by their graduate outcomes, it is also reassuring to have this acknowledged at such a level of higher education in Australia with such a prestigious award.
“However, I cannot imagine this achievement without the ongoing support of my colleagues and the leadership at Griffith University who recognise the importance of the field in which I teach and value my contributions to it.”
The internationally acclaimed scholar of Islam-West relationsdesigned and developed a suite of Islamic Studies with a contemporary, secular focus on Islam-West relations since joining Griffith in 2008.
“I approach teaching with a student focus and outcomes orientation. My objective is todistil from classical studies of Islam the most essential skills and knowledge, relate this to contemporary ideas, issues and events, and convey this to students through the perspectives and approaches of various relevant disciplines within the humanities and social sciences.
“The purpose of which is to produce graduates who have the capacity to competently, effectively and professionally deal with the complex issues facing Australia and the world today that arise from the challenges of conflict, crises and coexistence.
“I am in a somewhat unique position of teaching in a field that developed in a different socio-cultural context,for a different student cohort andfor a different purpose. I have the privilege and challenge of reinventing Islamic Studies in a Western, liberal, democratic society formostly non-Muslimstudents who graduate to become employees in various government departments and agencies, NGOs and other organisations, and as educators, journalists and researchers in roles that have the potential to impact on the future of Islam-West relations, social harmony and international peace and security.”
An example of Associate Professor Rane’s innovative approach to teaching is the annual Muslim World Study Tour to Malaysia, Turkey, Spain and Morocco which offers students a first-hand opportunity to engage with a diversity of people, cultures and societies with deep roots in Islamic civilisation. He will lead the 2016 cohort in January, an out-of-classroom experience he places great emphasis on.
“I think the profession of teaching is being shaped by emerging technology and economic imperatives.
“While both of these factors create incentives for more efficient ways of teaching, as educators we must also maintain a focus on the effectiveness of our methods for student learning. I hope that higher education will make learning outcomes the main determinate of our delivery methods.
“It is important to recognise that certain courses may be best delivered through online modes, while for others some form of face-to-face is still necessary. In my particular field, it is essential for my students’ learning outcomes to go beyond the classroom into the field and experience the people, places and issues they study first-hand. That Griffith is committed to maintaining this balance is, for me, both a source of pride and fortune.”
