Lecturer takes top honours at ITEA awards

A lecturer at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences (HSS) at the NWU Mafikeng Campus, Dr Liqhwa Siziba, took top honours at the university's annual Institutional Teaching Excellence Awards (ITEA). The award ceremony took place on 8 April 2016 during a gala dinner hosted in Potchefstroom.

Dr Siziba, from the Academic Literacy Unit at the faculty, was the winner in the Distinguished Teaching Excellence Award (DTEA) category. She is the first lecturer from the Mafikeng Campus to receive this recognition.

During her acceptance speech she thanked all the numerous people who had supported her along the way, including the Campus Rector, Vice-Rector Teaching, Learning and Quality Assurance, the faculty dean and colleagues who convinced her to enter for the awards.

"I am greatly humbled and honoured to receive the Distinguished Teaching Excellence Award. This award reminds me to work harder each day and focus on my students' learning needs. I consider it an honour to walk into a classroom and help students in thinking critically about the world they live in. I consider it a privilege to help students achieve their dream of a college education".

The ITEA Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the provision of teaching and learning across the NWU. Its main aim is to identify and encourage innovative and outstanding teaching and to show appreciation to lecturers for their commitment and dedication to student success.