Curtin Business School accounting lecturer, Glen Hutchings, has won a prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council Award for teaching excellence in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) category.
He was recognised for his development of innovative programs and initiatives which enable students to obtain real-life experiences, industry training and career opportunities.
Mr Hutchings said teaching was a great responsibility and an enormous privilege.
“There are few professions which allow an individual to fundamentally influence the aspirations, self-worth and long-term success of so many,” he said.
“The award is a wonderful affirmation of the work being done at Curtin Business School and the direction we are heading.”
The WIL program immerses students in real business situations and challenge them to develop viable solutions with the assistance of industry experts. Many students have gone on to careers in accounting and finance.
As part of the program, links have been developed with organisations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, KPMG, RSM Bird Cameron, Rio Tinto, Leeuwin Estate and Perth Zoo.
Earlier this year Mr Hutchings was appointed Head of Development for Curtin Business School and he plans to expand the WIL program to produce more industry-ready graduates.
In 2004 he received the Accounting/Finance Lecturer of the Year for Australia/New Zealand and the Curtin Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in 2005.
The ALTC Awards are worth $25,000 each and recognise Australia’s top university teachers and most outstanding programs and services that are aimed at improving the quality of student learning.
The Awards will be presented at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on 24 November.
