Outstanding teachers

First of all, I would like to congratulate the six outstanding teachers from the Northern Hub who were awarded at the recent Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards (TTEAs) ceremony held at the Beehive in Wellington. Professor Michael Walker (Te Whakatōhea), from the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Auckland, received the top award of the night – the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award, as well as a Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching award under the Kaupapa Māori category.

The University of Auckland provided a further three awardees, under the general category – Sustained Excellence for Tertiary Teaching: Rena Heap, School of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education; Professor Robin Kearns, School of Environment; and Dr Ross McDonald, Department of Management and International Business.

Unitec’s Dr Ksenija Napan, from the Department of Social Practice, also received an Sustained Excellence Award under the general category, as did The University of Waikato’s Dr Mary Fitzpatrick, Department of Marketing. Sandra Lee Morrison, School of Māori and Pacific Development, The University of Waikato received the second Sustained Excellence Award under the Kaupapa Māori category.

All of these teachers have been honoured for their significant contribution to learners over a sustained period. The ceremony may be over, but the journey for these teachers does not end there. They have all been inducted into the Ako Aotearoa Academy for Tertiary Teaching Excellence – joining the growing group of past TTEA recipients who are keen to share their expertise and passion for enhancing tertiary teaching across the country > find out what the Academy does.

Ruth Peterson, Hub Coordinator