Australian Awards for University Teaching — 2009

Awards for Teaching Excellence — Humanities and the Arts — Recipient

Mr Abdel-Hakeem Kasem
Deakin University, Victoria

Synopsis

Hakeem Kasem pioneered Australian in-country internship programs in the field of Arabic language and cultural studies and, through Deakin’s progressive online Arabic program, is leading new approaches to tertiary level language teaching nationally. His innovative work in second language acquisition of Arabic focuses on the conceptual challenge of integrating modern standard Arabic with the spoken language, through an in-country program that exposes students to both. In Deakin’s online Arabic program, Hakeem integrates appropriate use of technology with a scholarly approach, underpinned by systematic research on linguistic aspects of foreign language learning. Associated research projects have informed the program’s design and development, and generated publications in international refereed journals.

The online Arabic program has proven extremely successful in enhancing student intellectual and educational outcomes. Offered through partnerships with three other universities nationally, it is attracting interest across the sector. Student evaluation of teaching and units scores at all levels of the program have consistently been among the highest at Deakin, testifying to Hakeem’s success in establishing an effective, engaging teaching and learning environment. His achievements have been recognised nationally through an ALTC Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2008 and, at Deakin, through faculty and university-wide teaching awards.