These newly appointed fellows join a growing cohort at the University, now part of a nationwide network of over several hundred Advance HE fellows. At a celebratory gathering in the Hunter Council Chamber, friends, family, and colleagues came together in recognition and celebration of their achievements.
Te Arawai Ako is Te Herenga Waka’s professional recognition programme that enhances teaching and learning support practices for both academic and professional staff. Aligned with globally recognised standards, the programme is accredited to internally award prestigious Advance HE fellowships.
Various faculties and roles across the University are represented in the cohort, from teaching in languages and culture, to staff in the Centre for Physical Activity and Wellbeing. Both academic and professional staff benefit from seeing the various ways learning is conducted and supported across the University.
Tara Officer, a Senior Lecturer in Applied Health Science, was one of the 29 new fellows celebrated at the event, Initially, like many of her cohort, she was interested in the programme for the dedicated time it offered to reflect on her teaching practices.
“I wanted to understand what good practice in teaching looks like, what others do, and what things I can bring into my own teaching to lead to better outcomes for my students.
“For me, a standout point were the workshop classes—these acted as a valuable source of knowledge and resources, as well as an opportunity to network with and learn from others within the University.”
Tara also valued the mentoring aspect of the programme, which assists in the crafting of fellowship submissions.
“A colleague and I set aside dedicated writing time to keep up with the programme. We shared materials and compared feedback from the mentors, who were excellent at spotting things we missed.
“It’s important to make time for your development. Te Arawai Ako is not asking you to prove you’re the world’s best teacher, but rather reflect on your practices.”
Robyn Longhurst, Deputy Vice-Chancellor—Academic, spoke at the gathering, recognising the recipients for their dedication in completing Te Arawai Ako and their efforts to improve teaching and support student learning.
“This achievement is an important moment for both the recipients and the University, I congratulate all those involved.”
For further information on the programme, visit Te Arawai Ako.