The three lecturers awarded University of Otago Teaching Excellence Awards are all inspired by the pleasure of seeing their students learn.
Prof Rachel Spronken-Smith, who teaches higher education, Associate Prof Gordon Sanderson (ophthalmology) and Dr Moyra Sweetnam Evans (applied linguistics) received the awards, which are given out annually, in the Otago University clocktower building this week.
Vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne presented the awards and congratulated the three winners on their success.
''[They] are outstanding teachers who richly deserve ... [the] awards. They are inspiring educators and their ability to teach to an outstanding standard ensures that Otago students are well prepared to go on to excel in the chosen careers.''
Prof Sanderson, who has taught ophthalmology within the Dunedin School of Medicine since his arrival from England in 1972, still enjoyed teaching at the ''ripe old age of 67''.
''I still get a buzz out of the students. You get that lovely glow of understanding, that vibration when a group catches on at the same time,'' Prof Sanderson said.
Prof Sanderson's aim as a teacher was straightforward: ''When I teach I am looking at future doctors. I aim to ensure that the ones who aren't going to be ophthalmology specialists are going to be safe and know what they are looking at.''
Prof Spronken-Smith, who became the dean of Otago's Graduate Research School in January, teaches both lecturers and students and enjoys seeing them develop.
''I have a genuine desire to improve learning for students and staff, and to demonstrate leadership in teaching and learning. I love seeing students and staff being inspired and empowered,'' Prof Spronken-Smith said.
Dr Sweetnam Evans, who teaches within the department of English and linguistics and educates future teachers of English as a second language, said her enthusiasm came from seeing her students learn.
''I am highly motivated by the fact that I am providing my students with knowledge and opportunities to build skills that they can put to use in their own lives,'' Dr Sweetnam Evans said.
''Applied linguistics is such an inter-disciplinary domain that my students and I are never bored,'' she said.
