Theme Leader: Professor Greg Hill, Charles Darwin University, Darwin
Theme focus | Postgraduate Students | Coursework Masters | Extension and Training | Learning Products | Communication | Newsletter and Website | Publications | Achievements |
The Human Capability Development theme focuses on education, training and communication relevant to the stakeholder groups of the tropical savannas as well as the research and management agencies that are partners in the TS-CRC and/or rely on our outputs. More specifically, the role of the theme is to coordinate the operations of the education, training and communication projects described in the following pages. This last year saw great progress for the Theme on a number of fronts.
Of the postgraduate research students recruited early in the life of the TS-CRC, a number are now submitting their theses, and have already made a significant contribution to the scientific literature. Those who have completed their courses have already found employment. This demonstrates the quality of the students attracted to the Centre, the relevance of their work to the discipline areas associated with the tropical savannas, and the excellence of the CRC environment that nurtured their development. The professional development activities delivered to these students by the CRC and their experience working in partner agencies outside the universities provided them with unique opportunities. They enjoyed enhanced educational experiences and the relevance of their expertise to industry will stand them in good stead in their future careers.
The coursework Masters program is now fully operational, with core units developed in flexible delivery format, in line with the TS-CRC's mission to deliver to a dispersed client base across northern Australia (and elsewhere). Some of these units were formally evaluated by leading international authorities in distance education and are being used as exemplars of best practice within the university setting.
The Graduate Diploma and Masters courses are now available at both NTU and JCU and are using an increasing range of TS-CRC research findings as they are produced by the projects.
These courses succeeded in filling the educational gap that was clearly identified by the partner agencies at the time the Centre was proposed. At that time there were no units—let alone degree programs—that addressed the ecology and management of tropical savanna environments. In keeping with the vision of this CRC, graduates from the Masters program are staying in the tropical savannas and contributing to the management of these ecosystems through both the public and private sectors.
Extension and training activities progressed in association with research into learning needs and models of learning for key stakeholder groups. The major challenge, of providing outputs from the other research themes of the CRC into information and technology transfer packages, comprehensible to specific stakeholder groups, is being met. Again there is innovation and excellence, stimulated through the CRC, that has not been evident for the tropical savannas in the past.
The success of research into general educational provision, stakeholder needs and perceptions, and the specific learning styles of user groups (e.g. pastoralists) is breaking new ground in educational research as well as contributing to the task of efficient delivery to savanna stakeholders.
The TS-CRC is developing learning products that encompass the range of research work that the Centre covers under its four themes. The process of development of these products was participatory in nature, involving the use of learning processes appropriate to the groups taking part, as well as implementation of an action learning process by the Extension Coordinator. Progress was made with products as diverse as: the book Fire Management in North Australia; a video for weeds management on Aboriginal lands; an educational package on grazing land management for the pastoral industry; weed and fire management practical management stories; and a publicity package for the TS-CRC.
The communication module of the Human Capability Development theme has matured into a sophisticated enterprise that not only delivers relevant information to a diverse client base, but also fills a leadership role in demonstrating best practice via a diverse range of communication strategies. The website, newsletter, clearinghouse and a range of additional educational and publicity materials all attest to the success of the TS-CRC in this facet of its activities.
More than 2800 people across the savannas, many of them land managers, now read the newsletter Savanna Links, which has been widely praised. The CRC's award-winning website and clearinghouse receive between 20-30,000 hits per month. Both the website and newsletter are integrated and provide TS-CRC stakeholders with better access to savanna research as well as highlighting the Centre's research. The website is also being used as a resource by the Masters and Graduate Diploma students and by the Extension, Vocational Education and Training project.
This year will also see more than half a dozen publications produced that summarise TS-CRC research for various audiences. Other communication initiatives include multi-media CDs, displays at community events, and regular media releases focusing on smaller newspapers and newsletters across the savannas.
Over the last year, the program consolidated its activities as the theme projects commenced early in the life of the Centre have matured. The achievements are gratifying, but there is also the realisation that as the initial research goals of the other TS-CRC themes are reached, the outputs to be packaged and communicated by this theme are growing exponentially. It is also obvious that the potential for further research into optimising human capability development in the tropical savannas is high. We look forward to addressing this need in the future.
