Bay of Plenty Polytechnic tutor James Paterson is among the country's top tertiary teachers after being awarded a prestigious National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award this week.

The senior academic staff member and Diploma in Business tutor received the award at a parliamentary event jointly hosted by Minister for Tertiary Education, Hon Steven Joyce, and Cam Calder, Chairperson of the Education and Science Committee.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic tutor James Paterson with Prime Minister John Key and Wendy Morrison.

Established in 2001, the Tertiary Awards aim to recognise and encourage excellence in tertiary teaching while also providing an opportunity for teachers to further their careers and share their good practice with others.

A key focus of the awards is to identify and reward teaching practices that are student-focused and committed to promoting effective learning.

Polytechnic Chief Executive, Dr Alan Hampton, says James' success in receiving one of only 10 2013 National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards is a huge achievement and really well deserved.

'The award recognises James as a very special and innovative teacher and we all take great pride in his achievement,” says Alan.

'James' award is now the third national award won by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic staff in the past five years, following on Sam Honey's award in 2009 and Kelly Pender in 2010.

'These awards are testimony to the superb talent that exists within the institution's teaching teams committed to innovative and successful vocational teaching from foundation programmes through to degree qualifications.”

A popular tutor amongst his students and peers, James is delighted to just have been even nominated and the win was a complete thrill.

'I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of all the really great teachers we have here at the Polytechnic,” said James.

'We have so many wonderful educators here that regularly go that extra mile for their students; they really embed philosophies that allow their students to achieve.”

James' own teaching philosophies were built over his own years as a student where he flourished under the guidance of lecturers, who encouraged open, democratic learning environments allowing students to do a lot of the thinking themselves.

'The really great lecturers I remember were the ones who took an interest in me as a person that encouraged us to think and allowed us to explore ideas and develop and justify our opinions, while all the time they turned complex business theory into practical and easy to relate to concepts.

'That's what I try and do for my students. I attempt to make a really positive contribution in the learning and the lives of my students by fostering a democratic open forum, really getting to know my students and using real local business and marketing examples that they can relate to.”

Ako Aotearoa – The National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence is the administrator of the awards. The Centre aims to recognise and celebrate excellence in tertiary teaching and share good practice that has proven benefit for learners.