Annual Executive Dean – Academic: Research Excellence Awards
Yesterday our graduating students celebrated their achievements – a huge milestone and reward for their hard work. Many of these grads have been with us for a several years and a few are our Masters students. On Tuesday a ceremony was held for our seven ‘top Unitec students’ at the annual Executive Dean – Academic: Research Excellence Awards. These are level 9 Masters students who met the Award key parameter of an A+ grade for their research work.
At the event they were presented with a certificate to recognise this very significant achievement, by our Executive Dean – Academic, and Interim Chief Executive, Merran Davis, alongside family, friends and the awardees supervisors.
As outlined by our Director of Research & Enterprise, Marcus Williams, this leading research ranges across a wide span of projects across four areas – Architectures, Applied Business, Creative Industries and Te Miro, and was led independently by the students, with expert guidance from their supervisors. Their commitment represents studies ranging from six months to two years of work.
Merran said in her closing comments that their journey has also been our journey, as we have had the privilege of following and learning from their work.
Our tops students:
Marisa Aya
Master of Architecture (Professional)
Thesis: URBAN BHISHTI Infrastructure for the sacred – How can water infrastructure be developed to create a place of significance and progress in an Urban Indian context?
Pictured (from the left): Merran Davis – Executive Dean Academic and Interim Chief Executive, Cynthia Almeida – Postgraduate Academic Administrator, Marisa Aya, Marcus Williams – Director Research & Enterprise and Annabel Pretty – School of Architecture Senior Lecturer
Andrew Frankum
Master of Architecture (Professional)
Thesis: Motu Kokako – Tools for design in a sensitive and remote natural environment
Pictured left: Andrew Frankum with Marcus Williams – Director Research & Enterprise
William Howse
Master of Architecture (Professional)
Thesis: Functional Heritage, Reconnecting with the lion web
Pictured (from the left): Merran Davis – Executive Dean Academic and Interim Chief Executive, William Howse, Marcus Williams – Director Research & Enterprise, Annabel Pretty – School of Architecture Senior Lecturer and Cynthia Almeida – Postgraduate Academic Administrator
Sarah Treadwell
Master in Design
Thesis: ‘Keeping Watch fabricating a space of hesitation’
Pictured (from the left): Merran Davis – Executive Dean Academic and Interim Chief Executive, Cynthia Almeida – Postgraduate Academic Administrator, Sarah Treadwell, Marcus Williams – Director Research & Enterprise and Richard Fahey – Creative Industries Academic Leader, Undergraduate Education
Jagdip Bajwa
Master of Architecture (Professional)
Thesis: THE AGENT OF CHANGE = Architectural Development Scheme for the Rural Communities in Punjab, India
Pictured (from the left): Merran Davis – Executive Dean Academic and Interim Chief Executive, Cynthia Almeida – Postgraduate Academic Administrator, Jagdip Bajwa, Marcus Williams – Director Research & Enterprise and Annabel Pretty – School of Architecture Senior Lecturer
Steve Elmers
Master of International Communication
Thesis: Facebook, fickleness, and the new populism in the Philippines – Assessing Facebook’s role in Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign and rise to power
Pictured (from the left): Merran Davis – Executive Dean Academic and Interim Chief Executive, Cynthia Almeida – Postgraduate Academic Administrator, Marcus Williams – Director Research & Enterprise, Steve Elmers, Dr Elena Kolesova – Senior Lecturer School of Applied Business and Dr Philip Cass – Senior Lecturer School of Applied Business
Pwint Nee Aung
Master of Educational Leadership and Management
Thesis: The landscape of principalship in Yangon, Myanmar
Pictured: Pwint Nee Aung (Pwint is currently in Myanmar, her certificate was accepted on her behalf by her principal supervisor and Academic Leader, Professor Carol Cardno)
This is a fantastic feature. I hope these storied get to the Unitec web pages so our students can use them for inspiration. Building on this idea, a brief article on this graduation’s senior scholars could also provide even more positive stories.