C265/09
Curtin University of Technology’s Professor Zora Singh has received a prestigious $10,000 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Award.
Focusing on horticulture, viticulture and food science research and training, he is one of six Curtin academics to receive a citation for outstanding contributions to student learning.
Professor Singh, who has worked at Curtin since 1996, is a Professor of Horticulture within the School of Agriculture and Environment, and is passionate about agriculture teaching and research.
“Innovative research is vital for the future of agriculture in Western Australia,” he said.
“To ensure that we remain a leader in the field, we must provide the very best of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses.”
The ALTC award recognises his long-standing contributions to the quality of student learning and improving the overall student experience within the School of Agriculture and Environment.
He was responsible for the development of the postgraduate horticultural research laboratory and has built a strong record of fostering ongoing postgraduate student accomplishment, some years achieving 100 per cent success rates with his students.
“My first priority has always been the education of young new researchers to further the knowledge in our field,” Professor Singh said.
Based on this measure, Professor Singh has been a great success, with two-thirds of his PhD students receiving commendations from Curtin’s Chancellor for their outstanding theses.
Besides his impressive teaching schedule, Professor Singh has also been a prolific researcher, focusing on agricultural production technology, postharvest physiology and genetic transformation of fruit and other horticultural crops.
In total, he has been involved in 275 publications, including 78 papers in refereed journals.
Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket congratulated Professor Singh on the ALTC citation and praised his dedication.
“Curtin is very proud to have academics that have made such significant contributions to the quality of student learning at Curtin,” she said.
Professor Singh was nominated for the Australian Award for University Teaching and also won the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in 2007.
His meritorious service as a member of the Commission of Education and Training of the International Society of Horticultural Science was recognised in 2004, when he received the ISHS Medal and a citation.
The ALTC citations recognise and support quality teaching in Australia.
Professor Singh will receive his award at a special ceremony in Perth on August 14.
