The University has a strong tradition of excellence in teaching, learning and academic success. Here we celebrate some of the recent successes of VU students, alumni and staff, as well as the University itself.

Students

Cross country champ wins silver

Bachelor of Exercise Science and Human Movement student Liam Adams has collected a silver medal at the 2010 World University Cross Country Championships in Kingston, Canada. Liam who represented VU and Australia at the event covered the 10 km course in 30:09.7 to finish just behind Japan’s Tetsuya Yoroizaka (30:08.4). 

A seasoned competitor, Liam also claimed a silver medal at the 2008 championships in Mauquenchy, France. In the same year he was named male athlete of the year at the Australian University Sport Awards. Australian University Sport (AUS) is the peak governing body of university sport in Australia with 42 member universities, representing more than one million students.

Staff

Vice-Chancellor's Awards

The Vice-Chancellor's Awards recognise the exceptional practice and outstanding contributions of individuals and teams to Victoria University, and beyond. 

View the award winners:

• Peak award winners
• Citation winners
• Career achievement award winners

Achievement of a lifetime in VET

Berwyn Clayton was awarded the National Centre for Vocational Education Research VET Researcher of the Year for 2011. The award recognised Clayton's outstanding lifelong contribution to research in Australia's vocational education and training sector (VET) sector.

 

Sport and homophobia

Dr Caroline Symons from the School of Sport and Exercise Science was awarded VicHealth’s Professor David Hill Award in recognition of her innovative research study, Come Out to Play – The Sports experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender(LGBT) people in Victoria University. This is the first research of its kind to identify barriers to participation in sports faced by LGBT Victorians.

Take the dread out of your thesis

A program that takes the dread out of writing a thesis scooped a prestigious national Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Award in 2010. Adjunct Professor Ron Adams won the national award for a Program that Enhances Student Learning. He was honoured for his program supporting postgraduate students, ‘Demystifying the Thesis’, now offered at other universities nationally and internationally.

 

Alumni

Singapore alumnus wins distinguished Australian Alumni Award

In March, VU’s Singapore Alumni Chapter President Mr Kim Swee Seah, was one of five Distinguished Australian Alumni Awardees announced at the Distinguished Alumni Networking Night.

The award was announced by Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, His Excellency Mr Doug Chester. The awards are chosen on very strict criteria, and Kim Swee was the only awardee from a Victorian university.

Read the news article to find out more

Research

Police and youth collaborate

The Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development undertook a community-based study, ‘Don’t Go There: Young People’s Perspectives on Community Safety and Policing’, jointly funded by Victoria University and Victoria Police. Researchers Michele Grossman and Jenny Sharples found that a collaborative approach by police working alongside young people reduces violence and crime. A consultative model, ‘Listen and Learn’, for police–youth community partnerships will be set up across Victoria.

Promoting traditional Aboriginal cookery

 

A VicHealth-funded study by senior research fellow Karen Adams led to an Aboriginal television cooking series, a cookbook and the distribution of children’s dinner plates depicting healthy food. Adams worked with Victoria’s Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative to promote traditional cooking methods, improve access to healthy foods, and close the health gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

 

University

Best links with business

VU won multiple Business/Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) Awards in 2010. The awards recognise outstanding collaborations between business and higher education.

• Outstanding Collaboration with a Regional Focus: The Institute for Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM) was recognised for its partnership with Port of Melbourne and the Victorian Government’s Department of Transport Essential Services Commission.

• Best Community Engagement Collaboration: won by VU’s ‘Connected Lives’ pilot project, funded by The Victorian Health Commission (VicHealth) and supported by Telstra. The project aimed to improve the social connectedness and wellbeing of young Victorians living with multiple disadvantages.

• Honourable mention: VU International received an honourable mention for its role in establishing an innovative student safety program that promotes safe living to international students in Melbourne.