Cover Story

London calling: UC changes the face of postgraduate study

B2B Editor1 September 2014

London calling: UC changes the face of postgraduate study

Canberra’s postgraduate students will have direct access to prestigious University of London qualifications under a new arrangement made with the University of Canberra.

UC’s new Master of Management course to be launched soon will be paired with a University of London Graduate Diploma of Economic Policy, Policy Studies or Public Management under the academic direction1 of the School of Oriental and African Studies, one of the colleges of University of London as part of this new arrangement.

This unique combination means students will graduate with two postgraduate qualifications in the time it takes to complete one Master’s program.

Postgraduates will also have the opportunity to complete the University of London’s Masters of Business Administration (International Management) under the academic direction of Royal Holloway, another well-renowned University of London college, with access to University of Canberra facilities and staff.

The University of Canberra’s Dean of Business, Government and Law, Professor Lawrence Pratchett, said the University of Canberra will be the only university in Australia to offer the programs.

“We’re obviously very excited, this agreement marks the very first time an Australian university has entered into something like this,” he said.

“The program is perfect for anyone looking at studying a postgraduate degree locally but also wanting an international qualification.”

The University of Canberra will provide face-to-face academic support and curriculum content for students studying their University of London Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Business Administration.

Professor Pratchett said students will have access to all of UC’s facilities including the library and other resources.

“Tutorials will help students explore the content of the London courses and to discuss questions and topics with expert tutors here in Canberra,” Professor Pratchett said.

“This face-to-face experience will also help students to interpret London’s international curriculum in an Australian context.”

The program focuses on networking and peer-to-peer engagement in Canberra throughout the study period.

Students will also be able to ‘sit in’ on a range of other Masters courses offered by UC’s Business, Government and Law Faculty to gain additional knowledge.

“This is a unique opportunity to gain a qualification from London while also getting a Masters from the University of Canberra,” Professor Pratchett said.

University of Canberra Master of Management courses

The Masters of Management draws on curriculum from the University of Canberra MBA and Master of Business Management suites and has been carefully designed to complement the University of London postgraduate diplomas.

The degrees that will be offered in the first instance include:

* Master of Management (Economic Policy) incorporating the University of London Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Policy.

* Master of Management (Policy Studies) incorporating the University of London Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies.

* Master of Management (Public Management) incorporating the University of London Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management.

University of London’s Master of Business Administration (International Management)

The course has been designed for those who want an MBA from a prestigious international university but also want to study locally.

* Students receive a University of London qualification that is AMBA (Association of MBAs) accredited.

* Students undertake two short intensive blocks in London while the remainder of study will be based in Canberra.

* Students will have complete access to London curriculum and courseware with additional support from UC staff, peers, curricula and facilities.

University of Canberra’s Business, Government and Law Faculty postgraduate courses

The University of Canberra offers its own suite of postgraduate courses that are perfect for managers looking at moving up to the next level of their career.

Corporate learning

The Master of Business Administration (Innovation & Leadership) is tailor made for working professionals.

Innovative legal education

UC’s Master’s degree in Juris Doctor is delivered in a block intensive mode allowing students to study in the evening and Saturday to complete the course in three years of study while still working.

Other UC Masters courses for professional learning

These courses are designed around the needs of working professionals who still want an on campus experience.

The courses are suitable for both students new to business education as well as those seeking to broaden their understanding of relevant business fields.

* Master of Business Management (Executive Leadership)

* Master of Business Management (Human Resource Management)

* Master of Business Management (Information Systems)

* Master of Business Management (International Business)

* Master of Business Management (Legal Studies)

* Master of Business Management (Marketing)

* Master of Business Management (Project Management)

* Master of Business Management (Public Management)

* Master of Business Management (Sports Management).

To find out more about the University of Canberra’s postgraduate courses, visit www.canberra.edu.au

BRILLIANT

UC RESEARCHERS

Being diagnosed with cancer can be a traumatic experience. However, receiving news that the cancer you thought had been treated has returned can be heartbreaking.

Research led by University of Canberra Associate Professor in molecular and cellular biology, Dr Sudha Rao, is on the brink of making a major breakthrough to stop the spread of recurring cancer.

Dr Rao and her team are aiming to better understand how cells work at the genetic level and are looking at preventing the spread of primary cancer cells. Their research has recently identified two target proteins that, if blocked, can neutralise the cells that spread primary cancer around the body.

“There is very little therapy to fight aggressive cancers such as breast cancer and the available treatments are harsh and in many cases, superficial and transient,” Dr Rao explains. “And once they recur, there is no treatment whatsoever. We are determined to fix that.”

Focusing on breast cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in women, Dr Rao has built on previous work that identified a group of cells that are resilient to current cancer treatments and spread the cancer to other parts of the body.

“We aim to demonstrate that a therapy that combines standard care treatment with a treatment that inhibits cancer stem cells could prevent cancer recurrence,” Dr Rao said.

By looking at how these cancer stem cells are wired up at the gene level and understanding what makes them different to normal breast cells, Dr Rao and her colleagues were able to identify small molecule inhibitors that drugs can specifically target.

Dr Rao, who is part of the University’s Centre for Research in Therapeutic Solutions (CResTS) adds that “these treatments could also be used in tackling other aggressive cancers, such as prostate, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.”

Dr Rao and her colleagues received a grant of $571,894 from the (NHMRC) for the project. They are working in close collaboration with Canberra Hospital and the Australian National University (ANU) on their research.

“We are at the verge of making a breakthrough discovery as well as developing new therapeutic strategies, so this funding will ensure that our work continues to go_forward.”

UC Centenary Professor awarded Australian Laureate Fellowship

Most recently Centenary Professor John Dryzek, who is world-renowned for his work on deliberative democracy, was awarded the highly prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship.

” THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION TO ONE OF OUR BRIGHTEST MINDS IS A TESTAMENT OF THE QUALITY OF THE ACADEMICS THAT WE HAVE ATTRACTED TO WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA. “

Professor Dryzek from the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra’s Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA), was one of 16 outstanding researchers recognised by the Australian Research Council.

The Australian Laureate Fellowships are highly competitive awards, designed to develop and retain world-class researchers who through leadership and mentoring will build Australia’s international competitive research capacity.

Professor Dryzek’s work on deliberative democracy highlights the critical importance of effective, inclusive and transformative communication in decision-making, not only among those who make the decisions but between them and the public in order to solve global problems more effectively.

The UK-born political theorist, who joined the University of Canberra in January, said he was delighted to receive this accolade, the first for the University.

“It is an incredible honour to be recognised as a Laureate Fellow,” Professor Dryzek said from Harvard, where he is spending a semester as a visiting fellow at the Kennedy School of Government’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.

“This acknowledgement will boost our contribution to the building of deliberative capacity, not only in political theory but more importantly in applied practice, informing Australian positions in global negotiations or how Australian public policy responds to environmental governance.”

The fellowship, which includes funding of more than $2.6 million over the next five years, will allow Professor Dryzek and his team of postdoctoral fellows and PhD students take on three of the biggest challenges facing today’s world.

“We will investigate and contribute to the discussion on how to promote global justice, how to navigate a potentially chaotic Earth system, and how to involve people from different cultures in productive democratic communication and therefore, effective joint problem-solving,” he said.

University of Canberra Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Research) Professor Frances Shannon congratulated Professor Dryzek on his achievement.

“This well-deserved recognition to one of our brightest minds is a testament of the quality of the academics that we have attracted to work at the University of Canberra,” Professor Shannon said.

“Professor Dryzek is not only making an outstanding contribution to his field, he is renowned for his dedication to mentoring the next generation of political thinkers and researchers in this area,” she said. “We look forward to seeing this opportunity translate into a rich, dynamic research environment on global governance and democratic practices at the University.”

About Professor John Dryzek

John Dryzek is a Centenary Professor in the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra’s Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA). Before joining the University of Canberra, he was Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Australian Research Council Federation Fellow at the Australian National University.

He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, former Head of the Departments of Political Science at the Universities of Oregon and Melbourne and of the Social and Political Theory program at ANU, and former editor of the Australian Journal of Political Science.

Working in both political theory and empirical social science, he is best known for his contributions in the areas of democratic theory and practice and environmental politics. One of the instigators of the ‘deliberative turn’ in democratic theory, he has published five books in this area. His widely-published work in environmental politics ranges from green political philosophy to studies of environmental discourses and movements to global climate governance.

Professor Dryzek has also worked on comparative studies of democratisation, post-positivist public policy analysis, and the history and philosophy of social science. His current research emphasises global justice, governance in the Anthropocene (a new era of instability in the Earth system), and cultural variety in deliberative practice.

For more information

www.canberra.edu.au/research Twitter: @UniCanberra Facebook: University of Canberra

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