The Queensland branch of the Promoting Excellence Network (PEN) met at CQUniversity Rockhampton campus recently to discuss - among other things - what the future will look like when operations cease for the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) at the end of 2011.

The Australian Government made the decision to discontinue its funding of the ALTC in January 2011, with DEEWR taking over control of various ALTC activities (officially) as of the start of 2012.

CEO of ALTC, Dr Carol Nicoll, PSM, addressed the PEN during its two-day program to update the group on how the ALTC is working with DEEWR to ensure a smooth transition.  

The ALTC has committed to running three of its four flagship grants programs, plus the national higher education teaching and program awards and citations in 2011. For more information on these programs, please contact Marlene Page, Grants and Awards Officer ltgrants-awards@cqu.edu.au .

Professor Rob Reed, PVC (L&T), recently announced the CQUniversity recipients from the most recent round of ALTC Grants - Dr Prue Howard, Professor Donna Lee Brien and Associate Professor Bobby Harreveld. Despite the announced closure of the ALTC, the Federal Government will continue to fund these projects as part of the transfer of ALTC activities to DEEWR.

In 2007, CQUniversity received $218,312 in funding under the national Promoting Excellence Initiative (PEI). Some of the projects that have benefited from these funds have been the standardising and embedding of graduate attributes, establishment of a variety of Communities of Practice, the hosting of visiting scholars, a comprehensive revision of the teaching award policy and the provision of comprehensive advice and assistance to support staff in the development of ALTC award and grant applications.

University staff involved in managing the PEI projects for various institutions in Queensland developed the Promoting Excellence Network (PEN), which meets periodically to share best practice. Representatives from the University of the Sunshine Coast, QUT, University of Newcastle and Flinders University attended the two-day program in Rockhampton.

Whilst addressing the group, Dr Nicoll invited the PEN Queensland branch to apply for funding from the ALTC in order to continue its collaboration for promoting excellence in awards and grants and for developing best practice.