Otago Polytechnic teachers win two Tertiary Teaching Awards
Two Otago Polytechnic teachers have been awarded prestigious national Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards for
world-class teaching, among a field of 12 educators honoured this year.
The annual Awards, administered by Ako Aotearoa, celebrate New Zealand’s finest tertiary teachers. They will be
announced tonight at a function at Parliament.
Among those honoured will be Otago Polytechnic’s Principal Lecturers in Nursing, Dr Liz Ditzel and Mereana
Rapata-Hanning, who each take home $20,000 in recognition of their achievements. Mereana’s award is in the Kaupapa Māori
category.
“I’m delighted Liz and Mereana have been acknowledged with these prestigious awards,” says Chief Executive, Phil Ker.
“It’s wonderful the Awards Committee has recognised their dedication and excellence. Their contribution to Otago
Polytechnic and their commitment to their students are greatly valued.”
A total of 20 Otago Polytechnic educators have been recognised with these Awards since 2007, highlighting the
exceptional quality education on offer at the institute.
Otago Polytechnic’s Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards
2017: Dr Liz Ditzel – Principal Lecturer, School of Nursing
Mereana Rapata-Hanning – Principal Lecturer, School of Nursing
2016: Dr Megan Gibbons – Head of School, Otago Institute of Sport and Adventure
Richard Nyhof – Principal Engineering Lecturer, School of Architecture, Building and Engineering
Matthew Thompson – Senior Carpentry Lecturer, School of Architecture, Building and Engineering
2015: Clive Humphries – Principal Lecturer, Dunedin School of Art
2014: Adrian Woodhouse – Senior Lecturer, Food Design Institute
Daniel Pfyl – Senior Lecturer, Food Design Institute
David Gillespie – Lecturer, Food Design Institute
Stephen Ellwood – Lecturer, Food Design Institute
Tony Heptinstall – Senior Lecturer, Food Design Institute
Judith Roddick – Principal Lecturer, School of Nursing
Caroline McCaw – Communication Design Academic Leader, School of Design
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.
ENDS