A MOUNT Gambier university lecturer has received international recognition for setting the benchmark in the delivery of early education learning in the region.
University of South Australia Mount Gambier campus education lecturer Elisa Lawrie has been recognised as a fellow by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) in the United Kingdom.
With an unwavering passion for the early education landscape, Ms Lawrie said she was “thrilled” to be bestowed with a fellowship.
Ms Lawrie – who is also a teacher at St Martins Lutheran College – is an educator in the primary and early education courses at the university.
She said “face-to-face” teaching was the cornerstone of course delivery at the Mount Gambier campus.
“We have great lecturers and amazing facilities at the campus,” Ms Lawrie told The Border Watch.
She said the course delivery at Mount Gambier campus was vital given it gave locally-based aspiring educators the opportunity to study in the region.
“The courses are all locally-driven and students get the opportunity to work with local schools, local teachers and local lecturers,” Ms Lawrie said.
She said the Mount Gambier campus delivered a vibrant, caring and supportive learning environment.
“The students are great and it is wonderful to be able to nurture them and see them come from not knowing a lot about education to then expanding and building on that and becoming graduates,” Ms Lawrie said.
“We have had so many graduates now come through the Mount Gambier campus.”
Ms Lawrie – who has been at the university for seven years – said early and primary school education was a rewarding career path.
“I love the relationships you build with the students and seeing them learn and develop a passion for learning,” the lecturer said.
She said being an effective educator was also about guiding students towards achieving their goals and needs.
“The passion to see them succeed is what really drives me to push them further and get them where they want to be in their particular learning journey,” the educator said.
Regarding her international recognition, Ms Lawrie said she was honoured to had been nominated by her UniSA colleagues to work through this process.
Working in education for 16 years specialising in early childhood education, Ms Lawrie said it was lovely to be recognised for her commitment to the education sector both locally and internationally.
The HEA promotes teaching excellence in higher education, awarding recognition as a fellow to academics who have demonstrated a contribution to student learning through their professional and pedagogical practice.
This is the third award from the academy for the UniSA Mount Gambier campus with Dr Julie Reis being awarded a senior fellowship and Heidi Rose an associate fellowship in 2018.
UniSA regional manager Ian McKay said he was pleased another member of the Mount Gambier team had been recognised for their professional contribution.
“UniSA Mount Gambier prides ourselves on the high quality of our programs and the high standards of our graduates. This is in no small part due to the excellent staff that we have locally,” Mr McKay said.
