Awards for teaching excellence recognise Swinburne talent

The Australian Awards for University Teaching have recognised two Swinburne lecturers at a gala hosted by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Associate Professor Simone Taffe and Adjunct Associate Professor Andrew Dodd each received Awards for Teaching Excellence in their respective study areas of communication design and journalism.

• Associate Professor Taffe was recognised for developing problem-based learning for design education and its application to authentic workplace situations; and
• Adjunct Associate Professor Dodd was recognised for authentic learning experiences in journalism including leading the biggest university student journalism project ever undertaken in Australia

Journalism best learnt by doing

“The award recognises that there's definite value in a real-world approach to learning and teaching,” says Adjunct Associate Professor Dodd.

“Journalism is best learnt by doing and it should be done by developing and publishing journalism that's useful for real audiences,” he says.

Associate Professor Dodd hopes the recognition from the award will pave new paths for collaboration between journalism schools.

“I'm excited about developing ways that journalism schools across the country can work together to produce really large journalism reporting projects and this award will certainly help make future collaborations happen.” 

Maintaining student passion

“I’m grateful and amazed to have been honoured in such a fulsome, public fashion,” says Professor Taffe on receiving her award at the gala.

“I’m also extremely thankful to my students, past and present, who have provided me with such joy and satisfaction over many years, and thereby made this award possible.

“I have to admit also, that I am over the moon and will not return to earth for some time to come.”

Professor Taffe says she will now be going to work with even more of a spring in her step, determined to continue teaching to the best of her ability.

“I will continue to pass on fascinating knowledge and research skills in an innovative way, using a variety of strategies designed to maintain student interest; and also, to continue to teach in a manner that creates an abiding passion for my subject, not merely a passing interest,” she says.

Swinburne recognition

Swinburne Vice-Chancellor, Professor Linda Kristjanson AO congratulated the award recipients saying that she is pleased to see Swinburne’s dedicated lecturers recognised for their efforts.

“As a world-class university focused on creating impact, Swinburne is committed to transforming the future of education by giving our students the knowledge, adaptability and experience they need to make a lasting difference to the workplace of tomorrow,” she says.

“Our lecturers and teachers are creating future-ready graduates by taking our students outside the conventional classroom, and introducing them to new and different ways of learning.”

Awards for Teaching Excellence

The Awards for Teaching Excellence celebrate a group of the nation's most outstanding university teachers in their fields.

Teaching Awards give recognition to teachers renowned for the excellence of their teaching, who have outstanding presentation skills and who have made a broad and deep contribution to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching in higher education.

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