New Zealand's top tertiary teacher at CPIT

29 June 2006

New Zealand's top tertiary teacher at CPIT

Karl Dodds, the principal lecturer in maths, physics and computing at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), has been recognised as New Zealand's top tertiary teacher.

At the fifth annual Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards, held in Parliament last night, Dodds received the Prime Minister's Supreme Award, a prize of $30,000, from Tertiary Education Minister Dr Michael Cullen.

The awards recognise exceptional teachers with outstanding commitment to their subject and demonstrate knowledge, enthusiasm and a special ability to stimulate learners' thinking and interest. Dodds was chosen from a field of ten university and polytechnic teaching staff who won Sustained Excellence in Teaching Awards.

The awards were established to encourage excellence in tertiary teaching and help teachers further their careers and share best practice.

Karl Dodds attributes his win to 25 years of dedicated teaching building the foundations for eligibility, and a carefully crafted application capturing the essence of how he teaches.

Dodds says his inspiration comes from the faces of his beaming students, eager to explore and learn. Dodds' involvement and dedication to students doesn't end at the classroom door, but follows students throughout the transition from study to employment.

"I see myself as a dream maker," says Dodds. "Students enrol at this institution with a specific career dream or aspiration. I see it as my sole responsibility to turn students' dreams into reality. Success to me is in having students call past my office years later just to say 'thanks'".

Dodds says winning the award is the pinnacle of his teaching career.

"I am very proud for both myself and CPIT to receive this acknowledgement of my ability in teaching adult learners," says Dodds. "When I look at the calibre of the other award winners, I am reassured that the Tertiary Sector is well served by expert and excellent teachers and hope that collaboration among our institutions may result from this award."

CPIT Acting CEO Jo Milne praised Dodds' dedication to teaching.

"Karl is truly dedicated to his students' education and we are delighted that this award recognises that Karl is providing his students at CPIT the best teaching possible in New Zealand."

ENDS

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