Awards recognise excellence in teaching

Associate Professor Ruth McPhail accepts the 2015 Vice Chancellor's Award for Griffith University Teacher of the Year from Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O'Connor.
Associate Professor Ruth McPhail accepts the 2015 Vice Chancellor's Award for Griffith University Teacher of the Year from Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O'Connor.

Griffith’s inspirational teachers have been honoured at this year’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

The Gala Nights held on November 3 and 5,celebrated the achievements of winners of national Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, national learning and teaching fellowships and grants and winners of Griffith Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

Associate Professor Ruth McPhail from the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources won the 2015 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Griffith University Teacher of the Year.

Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor presented the prestigious award which acknowledges outstanding contribution to student learning at the Gold Coast campus on November 3.

“Ruth has demonstrated outstanding leadership of co-curricular transition initiatives in the GBS; initiatives that attract and support high school students as they transition to university, enriching the first year experience of commencing students,’’ Professor O’Connor said.

“From her students’ point of view, she is an exceptional teacher, a committed researcher, with a unique ability to share her enthusiasm and wealth of industry experience to provide real-world examples in class.”

A delighted Ruth said the awardspeaks to the continuing and growing importance Griffith University places on learning and teaching,which is why she chose to join Griffith over 14 years ago.

“I would like to acknowledge the support and guidance Professor Keithia Wilson has provided to me my entire career at Griffith. She is an important role model and leader in this space.

“My future aspiration is to continue to serve the students who enter ourdegrees by facilitatingtheir success and to contribute to the University in the ever growing complex landscape of tertiary education of Higher Education through leadership and innovation.”

Professor O’Connor congratulated all award winners nominated by their students and peers.

“These awards are recognition of our teachers’ commitment to enhancing the quality of students’ experience.”

Griffith University is first out of more than 40 higher education institutions across Australia in the number of Citations of Outstanding to Student Learning and highly prestigious National and Senior Fellowships awarded over the past six years.

Details of award recipients are below.
Office for Learning and Teaching Citations

Griffith University Awards for Teaching Excellence

Griffith University Group Learning Teaching Citations