Flinders University has received six Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching (formerly ALTC) for 2012.

The Citations went to four individuals and two teams across the University’s Faculties. They included a program run by Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and the unique Washington Internship Program developed and pioneered by Professor Don De Bats.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Andrew Parkin said the high rate of success was yet again evidence of the strength and consistency of the University-wide commitment to high quality, innovative teaching.

“The winners of the citations, both groups and individuals, have been recognised for their concerted efforts to refine and reinvent existing teaching methods and curricula,” Professor Parkin said.

“Their innovations display a remarkable combination of enthusiasm and rigour, and the outcome has been increased engagement and understanding for our students.”

A total of 11 Citations were made to South Australian universities. The recipients will be acknowledged at a presentation ceremony to be held on Thursday, October 4 at Hickinbotham Hall, National Wine Centre. The Flinders recipients are:

• Associate Professor Marinella Marmo – Law School – For establishing and sustaining a Criminal Justice Honours environment where self-reflection, goal-oriented future vision, and rich experiential learning opportunities motivate students towards success.
• Dr Peter Speck – School of Biological Sciences – For inspiring student learning through design and delivery of an engaging, interactive virology program that demonstrates the immense relevance and importance of viruses.
• Associate Professor Eileen Willis – School of Medicine – For teaching sociology to health professionals. Eileen Willis’ contribution is in articulating the relationship between theory and practice through scholarly publications, curriculum design and leadership.
• Professor Don DeBats –School of International Studies – For  the coordination and leadership of the pioneering, internationally recognised Washington Internship Program (WIP) that has motivated and inspired student learning for over a decade.
• Associate Professor Gour Dasvarma and Dr Udoy Saikia – School of the Environment –  For sustained commitment to effective teaching that fosters independent learning to enable students to achieve their goals in life.
• Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research – For sustained, dedicated, inspirational and far-reaching contributions to the education of pre-service teachers of Indigenous students in compulsory topics in the School of Education.