Communication and care packages helped students through crisis

8 February 2021

The University of Queensland’s student services director Andrea Strachan has been recognised with an international award for her work helping students deal with the effects COVID-19.

Andrea Strachan speaking with students
Andrea Strachan

Universitas 21 said Ms Strachan had worked tirelessly to sustain UQ’s response to the pandemic, including coordinating student communications and support, and named her its Overall 2020 champion time in the time of COVID-19.

The global network of universities noted that UQ had responded to more than 25,000 student queries between January and March 2020, and that Ms Strachan had led the “overnight” establishment of a student contact centre to support domestic and international students.

Ms Strachan said she was honoured to receive the award, adding that people right across UQ shared in the efforts to make the learning, research, living and working environment a little better wherever they could.

“Universities’ work though is far from over, as we steer and navigate through the pandemic’s continuing challenges,” she said.

“U21 promotes the benefits of internationalisation and there is no better time to recognise how sharing experiences and knowledge helped us all deal with COVID-19.

“An international view as we move into recovery will give our organisations opportunities to determine what higher education will look like, post-pandemic.

“We all have a responsibility to engage in these discussions locally, nationally and internationally to help shape higher education in the future.”

U21 said the initiative acknowledged people in the network who went “above and beyond” to make a real difference to their colleagues and their workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UQ Life crew holding 'hardship hampers'
One UQ Life crew prepares to deliver “hardship hampers” during 2020.

Candidates were nominated by their peers and colleagues, and U21 said all shortlisted champions demonstrated an astounding level of ingenuity and resourcefulness.

The judging panel comprised the U21 Provost and representatives from U21 universities without a representative in the competition.

U21 aims to help its 27 member universities to share excellence, collaborate across borders and nurture global knowledge exchange. 

In the lead-up to the awards announcement, U21 highlighted the efforts of UQ’s Professor James Ward and UQ’s Analytics Team, led by Dr Clare Hourigan.

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