TTEA 2018 Faafetai Sopoago and Hon Chris Hipkins

Success Story

Pacific health champion scoops top national tertiary teaching prize

14 September 2018 Pacific learner success

Faumuina Associate Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga, from the Division of Health Sciences at University of Otago, has received the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award at the national Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony at parliament tonight.

The Awards were hosted tonight by Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, with many other members of parliament in attendance, as well as guests representing a diverse range of organisations from across the tertiary sector. Ako Aotearoa – the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence - administers the awards and manages the event on behalf of the Minister.

In addition to the Supreme Award, 10 Sustained Excellence awards were presented tonight; two under the Kaupapa Māori category and a further eight under the General category.  All Sustained Excellence winners receive $20,000. The Supreme Award winner, selected from one of the ten finalists, takes home an additional $10,000.

The 2018 award winners are:

Kaupapa Māori category

Associate Professor Mānuka Hēnare

Business School, The University of Auckland

Professor Michelle Thompson-Fawcett

Department of Geography, University of Otago

General Category

Dr Rebecca Bird

Department of Anatomy, University of Otago

Dr Donella Cobb

Faculty of Education, Te Hononga Curriculum and Pedagogy, The University of Waikato

Dr Kathryn Hay

School of Social Work, Massey University

Professor Andrew Martin

School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University

Associate Professor Sheila Skeaff

Department Human Nutrition, University of Otago

Faumuina Associate Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga 
Also Endorsement for Excellence in Supporting Pacific Learners and Prime Minister’s Supreme Award

Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago

Listen to Fa'afetai Sopoaga talks to Radio NZ (14 September 2018)

Associate Professor Ekant Veer

Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury

Associate Professor Christine Woods

Business School, The University of Auckland