Australian Awards for University Teaching — 2009

Awards for Teaching Excellence — Work Integrated Learning (Priority Area 2009) — Recipient

Glen Hutchings
Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia

Synopsis

Glen Hutchings is recognised as a leader in accounting education through his innovative and revolutionary approach to teaching and coordinating a compulsory first year accounting unit at Curtin. With student numbers peaking at 1100 in one teaching semester, he has successfully created a flexible student-centred approach to learning that addresses the needs of individual students, focuses on the overall development of their professional skills and partners them in their learning journey. Glen has achieved these outcomes by shifting away from the traditional didactic lecture/tutorial structure to a large three-hour seminar with teams of mentors. The new tuition pattern is supported by a customised textbook, work integrated learning, peer learning and, in addition to seminar mentors, a mentoring program that provides individual one-on-one sessions. The work integrated learning programs are based on partnerships with major organisations including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, RSM Bird Cameron, KPMG and Rio Tinto. As a result, he has received numerous awards for his outstanding teaching and innovative industry-based programs. The most significant are the Accounting/Finance Lecturer of the Year for Australia/New Zealand in 2004 and the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in 2005. Glen’s success in building partnerships with industry and creating unique student experiences saw him appointed Head of Development for Curtin Business School early in 2009.