UQ Three Minute Thesis, Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning (APEL) - Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT)

Abstract:: The ability to communicate effectively is a crucial professional skill for all graduates. For research higher degree (RHD) students, these communication skills are vital to their ability to describe their research to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition was established to provide a framework to encourage, support, and reward the development of communication skills by RHD students. 3MT® was conceptualised by University of Queensland (UQ) Emeritus Professor Alan Lawson, who believed that RHD students should be able to clearly describe the aims, results, and outcomes or impact of their research in a way that was accessible to the general public. First held at UQ in 2008 with 160 RHD students competing, 3MT® competitions are now held in over 300 universities across 42 countries world-wide, with a regional competition in the USA, national competitions in Canada and the UK, and two international competitions: the Asia-Pacific 3MT® and the Universitas 21 3MT®. In addition to improved communication skills, 3MT® participants also benefit from the opportunity to showcase their research to other researchers, industry, and media throughout the network, which can open doors to new collaborations and job opportunities.
Grant type:: AAUT Award for Programs that Enhance Learning
Funded by:: Commonwealth Office for Learning and Teaching

The University of Queensland