October 09, 2019
Professor Penehira puts wananga in teaching spotlight
For the first time since their inception, a teacher at a Whare Wānanga has been chosen as a finalist in the Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards.
She's Mera Penehira from the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Collegaues say Associate Professor Penehira has brought a level of academic rigour to the kaupapa Māori programme that really lifted the quality and challenged students to reach their potential.
Her dedication to her students and commitment to enriching their learning experience was also noted.
Ako Aotearoa director Helen Lomax says excellent teaching has been occurring in the wananga sector for a long time, so it’s great to finally have an award recipient.
The other finalist in the kaupapa Māori category is Dr Ngarino Ellis from the University of Auckland, who is the only Māori art historian teaching in a New Zealand university.
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