On Tuesday, 11 October, the office of the Deputy Dean of Teaching and Learning at the University of Pretoria hosted the Faculty Teaching and Learning Awards 2022, which celebrate and honour academic staff for their continued contribution to excellence in teaching and learning.   

The Faculty Teaching and Learning Awards recognise and promote innovative teaching methods and excellence by academic staff.

As explained by the Deputy Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Vanessa Steenkamp, "the awards seek to recognise efforts by academic staff members towards Teaching and Learning." Prof Steenkamp also explained that the awards aim to create an opportunity for emerging lecturers to be recognised as they work towards becoming experienced lecturers. 

Three dedicated lecturers were selected first, second, and third-place winners in the category of Emerging Teachers' Award. This award seeks to recognise good and innovative teaching and facilitation of learning and sound assessment practices in lecturers with less than five years of teaching experience.

The more experienced lecturers were honoured in the category of Established Teachers' Award, which seeks to recognise and reward sustained good and innovative teaching, facilitation of learning, and sound assessment practices. One winner was recognised in the Exceptional Teachers' Award and Community Engagement Award categories. Winners in these categories will proceed to contend in university-wide Teacher's  Awards. 

The Exceptional Lecturer Award recognises a lecturer who has been involved in teaching and learning for over ten years and has contributed significantly to teaching and learning. In addition, this caliber of lecturer often shares experiences with colleagues through a community of practice.

The Community Engagement Award is celebrated together with the Teaching and Learning Awards, recognising the winner for capacitating the community and uplifting students and the community.

In his address, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Professor Tiaan de Jager, stressed the importance of excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, highlighting that a good lecturer must be technology savvy. 

"Teaching is a medium, but a good teacher is a different thing. You must be a good researcher to be a good teacher. Therefore, your research should inform your teaching. Also, a good teacher must be technology savvy",  he said.

"Embedded in teaching and learning is community engagement and, as part of the University's vision, the impact on society. However, a lecturer must understand other areas; that is why the University of Pretoria emphasises transdisciplinary". 

The Winners are: 

Emerging Teachers' Award

Third place: Dr. A Kasonga from the Department of Physiology.

Second place:  Dr. Sean Patrick, from the School of Health Systems and Public Health. As a post-doctoral fellow managing two South African Canadian studies, Dr. Patrick believes it is vital to ensure that the students understand that there is a need to find local solutions for local issues in research. His contribution has enabled students to achieve his module's learning objectives and apply their new knowledge in their work environments. In addition, he teaches research methodology and advocates for his students to conduct translational research in his lectures, thus seeking to produce more meaningful, applicable results that directly benefit human health.  

First place (Joint winner): Dr. Chane Smit, from the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology in the School of Dentistry, is a dentist from private practice. Her winning contribution bridges the gap between University and dental practice allowing a smooth transition by focusing on holistic patient care throughout her teaching and assessments. She is involved in theoretical teaching clinical training of students in eight undergraduate modules. In addition, she has developed the programme for undergraduate and two postgraduate modules. 

Joint winner: Dr. Ciska-Mari Schouwstra from the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology in the School of Dentistry. She believes that the end goal of all her activities is to collectively ensure and improve optimal care for patients and communities in public and private sectors nationally and internationally. As a specialist, her participation in the School of Dentistry expands to several undertakings while she partakes in different specialties of dentistry in postgraduate teaching and learning. However, her focus is on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BChD) degree undergraduate modules because she believes that she has made the most significant impact and developed most of her current beliefs on education.  

The Established Teachers' Award

Third place: Dr. Wesley van Hougenhouck-Tulleken from the Department of Nephrology in the School of Medicine. As a nephrologist, physician, clinical scientist, and geneticist, Dr van Hougenhouck-Tulleken aims to bridge the divide between clinical care and medical research in South Africa while enhancing the health of the very people we treat. He believes strongly in collaboration and wishes to elevate the state of medical care in South Africa. He is particularly interested in building capacity in South Africa and enhancing access to healthcare across the country. 

Second place: Professor Gian Lippi from the Department of Psychiatric in the School of Medicine has demonstrated his commitment to ensuring students access to a vibrant educational environment. He has played a pivotal role in establishing sound psychiatric education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the School of Medicine and across the faculty over the past decade. Prof Lippi has been active nationally as a regular examiner for the College of Psychiatrists . In addition, in his role as a member and Chair of the undergraduate programme committee, he has led the maintenance of high-level relevant teaching progammes designed to engage students and strengthens teaching practice.

First place: Dr. Owen Eales from the Family Medicine in the School of Medicine, a seasoned medical and academic professional, Dr. Eales demonstrates success in student development, ensuring optimal subject knowledge and practical, real-world participation as a member of the MBChB Curriculum review committee. He provides valuable insights and is taking the lead on reimaging how clinical skills are taught to undergraduate medical students in their first year. Dr. Eales currently performs multiple roles in teaching medical students, fellows, and registrars. 

Prof Liz Woolvaardt scooped the Exceptional Teachers' Award. In addition, she won Distinguished Educator Award 2022 at the Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE) Awards. She is an Associate professor in the school of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria and has been instrumental in developing innovative public health. 

Helga Lister walked away with the Community Engagement Award. She is from the School of Healthcare Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy. Ms. Lister's work in coordinating the Occupational Therapy Department community situated work in integrated learning modules has yielded much fruit for communities. In addition, she has been instrumental in facilitating and growing collaboration across the school of healthcare professions and reaching across faculties within the University to foster collaboration within other sectors.