Award Winning Curtin Sarawak Lecturer

Curtin Sarawak Engineering lecturer, Terence Tan has been awarded Curtin Excellence and Innovation in Teaching (EIT) Award 2008.

The annual award is granted to the selected best lecturer at all Curtin University of Technology campuses.

Terence Tan started his teaching career at Curtin Sarawak in July 2005 with Electrical/Communication Engineering & Computing Department. Tan’s passion for teaching led him on a constant pursuit in improving his approach towards imparting and sharing knowledge with his students.

Tan is often quoted by his students as a creative and innovative lecturer who is always finding ways of sharing knowledge in the most interesting way.

According to John Lau, a graduate, “Terence embodies a rare educator who seeks to inspire young minds to reach for our goals, realize our dreams, and being more than who we could be. Besides emphasising academic excellence, he encourages creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in his teachings. Such effort to instill the aforementioned qualities in us is much more important than just mere academic knowledge especially in engineering field. Although knowledge is power, we must know how to improve, expand, and apply the knowledge for the betterment of mankind. His day-to-day teaching clearly shows his effort in relating the theory to the real world. He bridges the gap between students and lecturer by encouraging active communication and being open in listening.”

Apart from his commitment to teaching, Tan also has a strong passion for student development. He has been actively involved in facilitating the University organised Curtin Camp, Pre-University’s Debate Competition, Engineering Club activities and offered a position as a mentor in Curtin’s prestigious John Curtin Leadership Academy (JCLA).

Tan involvement beyond classroom teaching is his way of practicing what he preaches, “I encourage my students to do more outside the class-rooms. Do personal projects. Differentiate yourself from every other graduate. Do something, do anything.”

“Terence is an intelligent young academic and our students have benefited tremendously from his dedication to his profession” noted Associate Professor Joan Gribble, Dean of Curtin Sarawak.

Nominated candidates of the EIT Awards are evaluated based on the following five criteria.

1. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn.

2. Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field.

3. Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning.

4. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals.

5. Scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching.

Through out the years, many Curtin Sarawak lecturers have been awarded this recognition. Shamsul Kamariah Abdullah the current Director for the School of Business was awarded Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2007 and Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Individual/Team Award Winners in 2005. School of Foundation and Continuing Studies lecturer, Beena Giridharan was granted Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2006) and Dr. Djwantoro Hardjito from the School of Engineering was awarded the same EIT Award received by Terence Tan in 2007.

Curtin EIT Award Committee is chaired by Curtin Perth’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Education, Professor Robyn Quin, with representation from all Faculty Teaching and Learning Committees and the Student Guild.

Terrance Tan