University of Otagotops
Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards
The University
of Otago has underlined its credentials as having some of the best tertiary
teachers in the country with huge success at the national Tertiary Teaching
Excellence Awards.
For just the
third time in the awards history, Otago teachers have secured four of the nine
awards, which were announced this morning by Ako Aotearoa. Two of the four
coming out of the UniversitysSchool of Business.
Associate
Professor Diane Ruwhiu from the Department of Management secured one of two
prestigious Kaupapa Māori awards.
The award is
due recognition for Associate Professor Ruwhiu, who has been teaching at the
University for 20 years and has been working to develop Māori content within
programmes in the Otago Business School. Her victory is the fifth Kaupapa Māori
Award win by an Otago teacher in the past seven years.
Associate
Professor Ruwhiu says that teaching matters because a reciprocal and
collaborative learning community creates an environment of responsibility and
respect for everyone involved.
For Professor
Hazel Tucker from the Department of Tourism, winning a national award was the
perfect follow-up to winning an Otago Teaching Excellence Award in 2020.
Im
absolutely delighted to have won this award as it has reinforced my passion for
the difference we can make as educators and confirmed that Im on the right
track, says Professor Tucker.
Alongside
these two wins, Dr LatikaSamalia of the Anatomy Department and Professor Tim
Cooper from the School of Arts also received Teaching Excellence awards for
their areas of expertise.
Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Pat Cragg says the awards are an important
illustration of the value of teaching at the University.
We are
immensely proud of all our teachers and in particular of the four award winners
this year who deliver outstanding experiences for our students, she says.
Their passion
and enthusiasm for the craft and the skills they employ showcase their
significant value to the vast number of students they teach.
Awards panel
chair Dr Graeme Benny says the standard of the nominations in 2021 has been
high.
The quality of the overall nominations
clearly supports the view that the New Zealand tertiary education sector is
fortunate to have professionals teaching with such skill, dedication and
commitment to learners.
The panel
thanks all nominees for the time and effort they put into preparing their
nominations and encourages them to continue their excellent work.
You can read more
about Associate
Professor Ruwhiu and Professor
Tuckers awards at the Otago University
Bulletin Board.
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