Associate Professor SungYong Lee (National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies), Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre (Classics) and Associate Professor Patrick Vakaoti (Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology) have been recognised for their considerable contribution to teaching at the University.
Humanities has accomplished something special, picking up all three Otago Excellence in Teaching awards presented for 2022.
Associate Professor SungYong Lee (National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies), Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre (Classics) and Associate Professor Patrick Vakaoti (Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology) have been recognised for their considerable contribution to teaching at the University.
They believe learning from others, including feedback from their students, is a key part of becoming a good teacher.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Helen Nicholson says, “The awards recognise some of our outstanding teachers. The University is fortunate to have such dedicated teachers who are committed to supporting the learning of our tauira.”
Each winner receives $5,000 to support their professional and academic development. A formal ceremony to celebrate their achievements will be held later this year.
Associate Professor SungYong Lee
Associate Professor SungYong Lee - University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching
Associate Professor Lee has a simple way to gauge how well his seminars have gone.
“When a seminar is successful, students leave the room with big smiles. At such moments, I can literally 'sense' the level of student satisfaction.
“My ambition is that they remember me as a humble but dedicated teacher, genuinely caring about their interests and needs.”
As a teacher in the field of peace and conflict, Associate Professor Lee believes excellent teaching is about enabling students to have 'life-to-life interaction' with the people who suffer from conflicts and the practitioners who attempt to address them.
Student feedback, often through informal, mid-term surveys, has been vital for improving his teaching performance. His approach as a teacher also reflects all the support he has received from his mentors, colleagues, students and family. His father, in particular, had a significant influence on him.
“I had grown up seeing him, as a primary school teacher, interacting with pupils. He seemed to have a magic way of making kids laugh every 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I haven't learned how to do so. However, his humble attitudes to his pupils has remained in me as a guide for my own teaching.”
Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre
Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre – University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching
Helping students recognise that learning is a journey and nurturing their curiosity is Dr McIntyre's key teaching goal.
In her experience, when you give students the space and freedom to explore the material, they come up with some incredibly creative and inspiring work, and that's what makes teaching Classics rewarding.
“I get to help them pull back the curtain to see how people might have lived in the Mediterranean 2000 years ago, but it is their questions and engagement that brings it all to life.”
Dr McIntyre says she is honoured to receive the award, which reflects as much on her students as it does on herself, “after all, teachers are only half of the equation.”
And good teachers are also learners – participating in teaching and learning circles and co-teaching papers with “amazing teachers” from Humanities and other disciplines has encouraged her to try new things with her classes.
Dr McIntyre says becoming an academic was a by-product of wanting to keep learning and exploring what more the ancient world of the Mediterranean had to teach us about humanity.
“Mostly, I love to share that passion for discovery with others.”
Associate Professor Patrick Vakaoti
Associate Professor Patrick Vakaoti – University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching (Endorsement – Supporting Pacific Learners)
For Associate Professor Vakaoti, good teachers are great learners.
“You get to be in a privileged position, one where you can influence hearts and minds. It is also a position of learning.
“Not all students and learners are the same. Sometimes the differences are subtle and as a teacher you only need to make minor adjustments, but sometimes the difference is quite vast and what is needed from me is significantly different.”
Associate Professor Vakaoti says the award recognises his service, which means a great deal to him, not just as an individual, but as a member of the Pacific community and one of a small but growing community of indigenous scholars. It shows their work is valuable and worthy of recognition.
Inspired by his mother, a primary school teacher, Associate Professor Vakaoti focuses on getting to know his students.
As an indigenous Fijian woman, his mother's teaching both at home and at school was influenced by the Fijian values of veiwekani (relationships), vei talanoa (conversing respectfully with people) and vei rogorogoci (listening with respect and intently to others).
“Her values became my values and now I draw on them to bring hope and enlightenment to my diverse students.”
- Kōrero by Andrea Jones