In summary

  • The 2024 Swinburne School Teaching Excellence Awards shine a light on our incredible educators, who provide the valuable knowledge, tools and experience to ensure our students are career ready
  • Teachers from multiple schools have been recognised for innovative teaching methods and industry-linked curricula to developing overseas study tours

The 2024 Swinburne School Teaching Excellence Awards shine a light on our incredible teachers who provide the valuable knowledge, tools and experience to ensure our students are career ready.

The Swinburne School Teaching Excellence Awards were established in 2020 with submissions judged by a panel made of Associate Deans from each of Swinburne’s six higher education schools.  

Across each of our schools, our teachers have been recognised for their innovative teaching methods, dedication to crafting immersive study tours, building industry-engaged curricula and empowering and supporting our students.

School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship

Dr Hassan Kalantari Daronkola has been recognised for excellence in innovative teaching methods and AI integration to enhance students’ engagement and job readiness in marketing research and analytics.

Through integrating AI tools, real world surveys and authentic client projects into his teaching, students are equipped with practical industry-relevant skills.

Dr Chamindika Weerakoon, Associate Professor Jerome Donovan and Dr Eryadi Masli have been recognised for their efforts in using digital prototyping to test and validate business models in an entrepreneurial learning context.

Seeing a gap in students’ digital literacy skills, they addressed the gap by teaching students how to use design tools like Adobe XD for business model testing.  

Dr Eryadi Masli and Dr Chamindika Weerakoon

School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education

Senior Lecturer Dr Mark Finn received the award for excellence in developing the Media and Communication Study Tour program.

Dr Finn has more than two decades of experience in crafting immersive mobility programs, including multiple successful study tours to Greece, Malaysia, Nepal, China and Vietnam.

The tours create lasting professional and personal connections and encourage students to continue networking with each other long after the completion of the study tour. 

Dr Mark Finn

Associate Professor Liam Burke, Dr Andrew Lynch, Dr César Albarrán-Torres, Dr Naja Later, Associate Professor Dan Golding and Dr Karen Horsley have all been recognised for their efforts behind developing Swinburne’s cinema and screen studies curricula.

Built through exclusive partnerships with leading screen culture organisations such as ACMI, Village Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment, Letterboxd, and Lido Cinemas, they are creating future-ready learners through industry-engaged assessments.

(Left to Right) Associate Professor Dan Golding, Dr Andrew Lynch, Dr César Albarrán-Torres and Associate Professor Liam Burke

School of Engineering 

Dr Rizwan Abdul Rahman Rahid has been recognised for enhancing engineering education by bridging academia and industry through strategic partnerships and experimental learning tours.

By integrating industry visits, guest lecturers, lab tours, advanced software labs and industry-relevant assessments into the curriculum, Rizwan has brought together theoretical knowledge and practical applications through his teaching.

Dr Rizwan Abdul Rahman Rashid

Dr Kwong Ming (KM) Tse has been recognised for empowering future engineers through transforming curriculum through student insights and real-world project-based learning.

By incorporating student feedback, revamping the curriculum to focus on practical problem-solving projects, and utilising active learning tools, KM has transformed the Swinburne’s  Mechanical Engineering unit into one of the highest rated. 

Dr Kwong Ming (KM) Tse

School of Design and Architecture 

Joanna Gardner, a dedicated educator with more than fourteen years of experience, has been recognised for her innovative teaching methods leading to student success and engagement.

Emphasising experimental learning and reflective practice, she has consistently inspired and motivated students, resulting in high engagement and exceptional academic performance.

School of Health Sciences

Dr Jessica Mackelprang and Dr James Williams have been awarded excellence in design, implementation and evaluation of an innovative assessment to cultivate digital literacy and visual communication skills among undergraduate health psychology students.

Receiving strong feedback from students, the assessment involves students creating health infographics and enhances students’ understanding of health-related behaviours, digital literacy and health communication.

These awardees highlight the dedication and expertise of Swinburne teachers, preparing the next generation of learners for a tech-rich future. 

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