Curtin’s lecturers receive HEA Fellowships
MIRI: Three lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering and Science of Curtin University Malaysia have been awarded with the Higher Education Academy ( HEA) Fellowships by the UKbased Advance Higher Education (Advance HE).
Mechanical engineering lecturer Lai Zhenyue received the Senior HEA Fellowship, while civil and construction engineering lecturer Dr Wong Shi Yee and another mechanical engineering lecturer Chew Ing Ming were acknowledged as Associate HEA Fellows (AFHEA).
They were among 18 academicians from Curtin University’s campuses being given the recognition for HEA Fellowships during Curtin’s annual ‘ Festival of Learning’ held across its campuses in Western Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, Mauritius and Singapore – running from Nov 5 to 9 this year.
HEA is an independent, notfor-profit UK- based body that champions teaching excellence in higher education across the globe, meant to improve student’s outcomes.
With over 100,000 Fellows worldwide, HEA Fellowship demonstrates personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education.
Awarded across four categories – from associate to principal levels – the HEA Fellowship gives recognition to individuals for their practice, impact and leadership of teachingandlearningbenchmarked against UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Descriptors.
Curtin University deputy vicechancellor (academics) Prof Jill Downie said as a global university committed to excellence in learning and teaching, Curtin is delighted that 18 of its staff members have been awarded HEA Fellowships to increase the international mobility of its workforce and validate their achievements in supporting student’s learning.
Curtin Malaysia pro vicechancellor, president and chief executive Prof Jim Mienczakowski, in congratulating the three Curtin Malaysia lecturers, said their achievement showed the university’s commitment to excellence and innovation in learning and teaching.
According to him, Curtin Malaysia continues to create innovative learning spaces with the latest technologies to support active student’s learning, while encouraging excellence in individual teaching practice.
“Such capacities in learning and teaching, as well as well-integrated campuses, are the hallmarks of a genuine global university,” Mienczakowski remarked.
In her remarks, Lai said her Senior HEA Fellowship is a valuable measure of her key contributions to high- quality student’s learning and impact on influencing staff in teaching and supporting learning.
Chew, who was grateful for the recognition of his learning and teaching practices, would continue to explore innovative teaching methods to improve students’ learning outcomes.
For Wong, being made an Associate HEA Fellow has given her the encouragement to pursue new pedagogies in learning and teaching.
Academicians from Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science have won a string of awards this year, including four Anak Sarawak Appreciation Awards from Sarawak government during the Ninth Anak Sarawak Awards ceremony.