2017 Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awardees

In 2017, twelve teachers received sustained excellence awards for their contribution to tertiary teaching and learning under the General and Kaupapa Māori categories.

Dr Te Taka Keegan

Prime Minister’s supreme award recipient 2017

Te Taka has revitalised the Māori language through technology in his teaching and research

“I have been able to transform the landscape beyond my classrooms for the betterment of both te reo Māori and computer science.” 

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Professor Ursula Cheer

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Ursula’s previous real world experiences shapes her teaching with dynamic results

“I drive my students to become involved with the sorts of activities and conditions likely to generate high-quality and deeper learning.” 

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Dr Liz Ditzel

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Her passion to teach came from a desire to help nurses survive the ‘reality-shock’ of their clinical context

“I love teaching and thrive on being part of a vibrant team of academics who are passionate about nurse education.” 

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Associate Professor Ruth Fitzgerald

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

A dynamic and engaging lecturer, dedicated to supporting and encouraging students to follow their interests in anthropology

“My teaching approach is to forge academic knowledge into tools for successful living (rather than merely facilitating good grades).” 

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Gail Harrison

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Gail’s personal educational experiences have guided how she supports adult learners to succeed in education and life

“I see my role not only as a learning facilitator but as a mentor, assisting learners to achieve goals and to achieve excellence in educational achievement, in spite of the odds.”

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Dr Brad Hurren

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Brad imparts his infectious enthusiasm for anatomy to students, colleagues and the wider public

“I grab with both hands any opportunity to talk about and pass on what I have learned about human anatomy.”

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Associate Professor Ben Kennedy

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Ben has successfully created a “transformed” learning environment in line with the top science educators in the world

“I love teaching and volcanoes, and I am convinced that learning about rocks is fun!” 

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Dr James McKinnon

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

James constantly evaluates and refines his teaching to improve the learning experience for students

“I want students to learn to be active, creative agents in their worlds, not merely critical bystanders or passive consumers of others’ products.” 

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Associate Professor Jay Marlowe

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

From grassroots social worker to teacher, researcher and advocate for students from refugee backgrounds

“As a teacher, I talk with students, rather than lecture at them. I relate theoretical ideas to real world examples and draw on my international social work practice experiences.” 

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Mereana Rapata-Hanning

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching – Kaupapa Māori category

Mereana is responsible for nursing programmes focusing on Māori health, cultural safety and Treaty of Waitangi education

“My key contribution is in increasing knowledge about contemporary Māori health status and informing health professionals of strategies that will enable them to work effectively with diverse Māori realities that exist in Aotearoa today.” 

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Amy Raymond

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

A night class in accounting led Amy to a teaching career that highlights how exciting the world of accountancy can be

“My ‘wow’ is transforming the boring.” 

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Haruko Stuart

Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching

Haruko coordinates and teaches Japanese language courses with passion, love, patience and empathy

“Language learning opened up a whole new world for me, and now
it is my turn to share this experience.” 

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