Dr Laura Dooley awarded the Universitas 21 Fellowship for academic staff

Dr Laura Dooley from the Faculty of Science has been awarded this year's Universitas 21 (U21) Fellowship for academic staff.

The U21 Fellowship recognises outstanding teaching performance and provides development opportunities for recipients.

The key objective of the Fellowship is to advance the strategic priorities of the University, while enabling the Fellow to develop their expertise, pass on their learnings and strengthen links with other U21 institutions.

Dr Laura Dooley of the Melbourne Veterinary School is a teaching specialist academic who has made significant contributions to innovative teaching in veterinary medicine, promoting student engagement, belonging, and employment outcomes.

The Fellowship will support Dr Dooley to investigate how veterinary education curricula can be designed to enhance students’ sense of belonging within a diverse professional community, as some student cohorts can experience a feeling of disconnection from their peers and institutions.

As a part of the project, Dr Dooley will visit four U21 institutions (The University of Nottingham, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Sydney and The University of Queensland), and another UK veterinary school (The Royal Veterinary College) to explore their teaching approaches to help develop students’ professional identity and enhance their employability.

The outcome of this project will provide valuable insights to shape future curriculum development at the Melbourne Veterinary School, to ensure it continues to build a diverse and inclusive community of learners who graduate ready to enter the workforce.