Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award for Otago Polytechnic

Media release: Otago Polytechnic

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Prestigious Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award for Otago Polytechnic Lecturer
Sixth year in a row Otago Polytechnic educators honoured

For the sixth year in a row, Otago Polytechnic has received a prestigious Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award, celebrating New Zealand’s finest tertiary teachers.

The School of Design’s Creative Studies Academic Leader, Jane Venis, is one of twelve New Zealand educators to be honoured in 2012 – one of a record 9 female winners this round. She takes home $20,000 in recognition of her achievement.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have won this award,” says Jane, who first began teaching 30 years ago.

“I love to see the spark when students grasp new ideas, master a skill and trust in themselves to experiment and confidently go out into the world,” she explains. “I also like to reinforce the values of expression and experimentation, rather than perfection.”
In addition to her role at the Polytechnic’s School of Design, Jane co-teaches the postgraduate workshop programme at the institute’s Dunedin School of Art and is also a well-known sculptor who has exhibited extensively throughout the country. She is currently studying for a PhD in Fine Arts, while balancing the demands of teaching and her own artistic endeavours.
“My art and my studies constantly inform my teaching. I am learning all the time, and I love sharing that knowledge with my students. I think that’s extremely important,” she says.
Otago Polytechnic’s Chief Executive, Phil Ker, says Jane is extremely deserving of the award. “Jane is a remarkable teacher who inspires and motivates her students with her creativity, passion and expertise. It’s fantastic she has been acknowledged by the Awards Committee,” he says.
“I also feel very proud that Otago Polytechnic lecturers have been honoured at these prestigious Awards for the past six years running. It is gratifying and rewarding to see our talented teaching staff being recognised nationally.”
Jane would like to acknowledge her fellow colleagues at the Schools of Art and Design. “I couldn’t have won this award without them. I love working with them all and I value their ongoing support.”

Otago Polytechnic Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards

2012 – Jane Venis Creative Studies Academic Leader, School of Design
2011 – Professor Leoni Schmidt – Head of School of Art
Peter Bilous – Snowsport/Avalanche Studies Programme Manager, Central Otago campus
2010 – Maxine Alterio – Principal Lecturer, Educational Development Centre
2009 – Judy Magee – Senior Lecturer, School of Foundation Learning
2008 – Adrian Woodhouse – Senior Lecturer, School of Hospitality
2007 – Margo Barton – Fashion Academic Leader, School of Design.

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