CENTRE FOR LEARNING AND SCHOLARSHIP SKILLS: TRAINING
Engagement in scholarship at AC includes both college-wide scholarship for institutional staff development and individual scholarship, such as personal professional development, teaching, research or professional practice. The training arm of CLASS offers professional development for faculty, research students and the broader higher education community, such as skills training in teaching, marking, curriculum design, engaging with diversity and online learning.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CLASS contributes to the Professional Development Workshop Program of the College, which is coordinated by the Learning and Teaching Committee. The topics are developed in consultation with the academic staff and are generally run as workshops to develop skills in higher education learning and teaching and showcase best practice. Some Professional Development Workshops relate to discipline-specific scholarship. The professional development program of the College is available to full-time, part-time, and sessional staff. Several postgraduate students are employed as tutors, so are also part of the staff professional development program. Workshops are recorded and can be viewed by all full-time, part-time, and sessional staff.
The goal of the Professional Development Workshops is to develop the skills of the academic community and disseminate best practice in specific disciplines and/or in higher education learning and teaching. Opportunity is also provided at the Professional Development Workshops to showcase new ideas and innovations from within the faculty. A specific professional development opportunity also provided to all AC academic staff (whether full-time, part-time or sessional) is funding to obtain the Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
The AC Women's Leadership Forum Program provides a forum for inspiring women faculty and female HDR candidates through talks from senior female leaders in academia. From Vice Chancellors to CEOs of not for profit organisations, the speakers in this series shared not only their expertise but also lessons learned in their person journey as female leaders. This forum has also collaborated with the Avondale Women’s Network to co-host some events.
Research Roundtables
Women's Leadership Forum Program
Professional Development Workshops
Awards and Higher Degree Research Courses
Excellence in Teaching Awards
AC is committed to excellence in learning and teaching across all courses of study. These awards aim to recognise and reward teaching staff who demonstrate creativity, innovation and excellence in teaching and scholarship. The awards reflect the Australian Awards for University Teaching that recognises quality teaching practices and outstanding contributions to student learning. Recipients, with the support of their institutions, further contribute to systemic change in learning and teaching through ongoing knowledge sharing and dissemination.
Previous Recipients
- Andrew Youd, Excellence in Teaching Award, 2016
- Adam White, Excellence in Teaching Award, 2017
- Lily Arasaratnam-Smith, Excellence in Teaching Award, 2018
- Jody Sisley, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2017
- Daniel Thornton, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2018
- Jim Twelves, Excellence in Teaching Award, 2019
- Emma Austin, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2019
- Robyn Wrigley-Carr, Excellence in Teaching Award, 2020
- Grant Buchanan, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2020
Additional Resources:
Community Engagement Award
AC Community Engagement focuses on collaboration between AC with community groups and organisations to achieve mutually agreed goals that advance the AC mission and meet community needs. The purpose of AC Community Engagement is to build capacity, improve well-being, and produce just and sustainable outcomes in the interests of individuals, the AC community and the broader community. It serves the common good, particularly for those most marginalised or disadvantaged. These awards are conferred at the annual AC graduation ceremony.
Previous Recipients
- Kevin and Glenys Hovey, Community Engagement Award, 2018
Additional Resources
Distinguished Alumni Awards
AC is committed to honouring its distinguished alumni through two separate awards: Distinguished Alumni Award and Young Distinguished Alumni Award. These awards are conferred at the annual AC graduation ceremony.
Previous Recipients
- Rev Dr Andrew Evans, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2015
- Pastors Cyril and Evelyn Westbrook, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2017
- Pastor Alun Davies, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018
Additional Resources
Kevin and Glenys Hovey Missions Award
This award will be given to an AC graduand who has made a significant contribution to mission concepts and the advancement of the cause of the Great Commission in cross-cultural contexts through their research and writing while at AC; has made a significant contribution to AC’s cross-cultural ministry engagement; or has contributed substantially to field mission ministry prior to coming to study cross cultural ministry subjects at AC. This award is conferred at the annual AC graduation ceremony.
Previous Recipients
- Amanda Fitzgerald, 2017
Additional Resources
Parker Biblical Studies Award
This award will be given to an AC graduand who has made a significant contribution to biblical studies through their research and writing while at AC or has the highest GPA of the biblical studies/ancient language graduate cohort. This award is conferred at the annual AC graduation ceremony.
Additional Resources
AC offer three Higher Degree Research (HDR) courses:
A list of all courses offered by AC is available on the College website.
