Recognising dedication to teaching and learning for life

The University of Queensland is celebrating innovation and creativity with the 2022 Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Doune Macdonald said the awards recognise the significant contributions of dedicated and talented individuals and teams delivering quality programs to set students on a lifelong journey.

“Our theme for Teaching and Learning Week this year is ‘Learning for Life’,” Professor Macdonald said.

“Through a tumultuous period of pandemic restrictions, flooding and disaster recovery, we’ve all had to think on our feet and stay agile.

“As challenging as that has been, this period has helped us come together in different and innovative ways.

“Teaching and Learning Week is an opportunity for the UQ community to celebrate creative and innovative teaching and learning practices and programs designed to enhance student experiences.

“You will find evidence of this in our award winners who have been creating practices that value respectful learning, partnered learning and personalised learning, meeting the sub-themes of this week at UQ."

Associate Professor Ann Black from the School of Law has received an Award for Teaching Excellence for designing courses to counter ethnocentric understandings of law and equip her students to be informed global citizens.

Dr Suja Pillai from the School of Biomedical Sciences was recognised with an Award for Teaching Excellence for student-centred teaching approaches which foster critical thinking and prepare medical students for lifelong learning.

A series of 26 events during Teaching and Learning Week is designed to give staff opportunities to share ideas and innovations and discuss contemporary teaching and learning practices.

“UQ has always been an environment that fosters curiosity and welcomes questions as much as it values answers,” Professor Macdonald said.   

“We are all committed to learning for life, and we remain students even as we are teachers.

“Along with acknowledging the winners, I am very mindful of the extraordinary efforts of those who support our teachers behind the scenes, enabling them to develop the creative and innovative practices evident in the awards.

“This week more than 100 presenters will be sharing their ideas and I urge staff to attend these valuable events and gain and share fresh new skills and ideas to implement next year.”

Awards for Teaching Excellence  

Associate Professor Ann Black, School of Law, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.

Dr Suja Pillai, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine.

Commendations for Teaching Excellence

Dr Peter Walters, School of Social Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Dr Ryan Williams, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Award for Programs that Enhance Learning

The Work and Research in Applied Psychology Team: Dr Natasha Matthews, Dr Mazlan Maskor and Mr Jordan Reutas; School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

Commendations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

CaLD Lab Team: Associate Professor Noriko Iwashita, Dr Seb Dianati, and Ms Franciele Spinelli; School of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Digital Dental Team: Dr Sobia Zafar and Dr Jessica Zachar; School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Associate Professor Lisa Hall, School of Public Health

The Higher Ed Heroes Podcast Team: Associate Professor Alastair Stark, Dr Sebastian Kaempf, and Mr Anthony Frangi; School of Political Science and International Studies

Associate Professor Elizabeth Krenske, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Associate Professor Peter Lewis, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Associate Professor Sabine Matook, UQ Business School

Associate Professor Christine Slade, Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation

The Urban Design Challenge Team: Professor Steven Kenway, Dr Paola Leardini, Associate Professor Ilje Pikkar, Dr Sebastian Darchen, Cathryn Chatburn, Mojtaba Moravej, Diana Navarro; Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology

Commendations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Dr Obaid Hamid, School of Education

Associate Professor Shuang Liu, School of Communication and Arts

Dr Miriam Moeller, UQ Business School

Dr Freyr Patterson, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Ms Tarli Young, School of Psychology

Read more about all of the award winners via the Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation. 

Media: UQ Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation, italimarcomms@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 6211.