Engineering lecturer wins national teaching prize

University News media release

In 2006 a University of Adelaide academic renowned for his work in water resources and environmental management was awarded one of the most prestigious teaching prizes in Australia.

Professor Holger Maier was presented with a $25,000 Australian University Award for Teaching Excellence by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) at a ceremony in Parliament House, Canberra, as well as Citation 'for sustained contributions to the development and promotion of online situational learning for the development of graduate attributes.'

The prize honours the nation's most outstanding university teachers in their fields.

Described as "an exemplary practitioner of student-centred teaching", Professor Maier from the School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Engineering teaches in water resources and environmental engineering and is internationally renowned for his research into sustainable water resources and infrastructure management.

Professor Maier has been able to successfully integrate his research and professional knowledge into his teaching and has been a pioneer in developing a number of innovative approaches to teaching, including online role-play simulations and other active learning methods for developing technical and generic graduate attributes.

He is the co-developer of the multi award-winning Mekong e-sim, an online role-play simulation designed to enhance students' problem-solving abilities and help them experience the impact of engineering projects on society.

With the aid of funding from the University of Adelaide, Professor Maier has assisted other areas within the university to adopt the e-sim model. For example, the e-sim concept has already been used by Adelaide nursing students to simulate a response to a possible bomb explosion in the outback, requiring them to develop procedures to cope with such a disaster.

"The Mekong e-sim helps students learn that engineering is not about sitting at a desk with a calculator. It's about communicating and learning real-world skills that can be used to tackle complex environmental and water resources problems, such as those currently experienced in Australia," Professor Maier said.

Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide, Professor James McWha, said Professor Maier recognised early in his teaching that students needed an "authentic learning and assessment environment to engage their interest and develop their cognitive, social and emotional character".

"He is always seeking improvements in his teaching and is never content to rest on past achievements. He is an inspirational example of a professional engineer, who generates original research and uses this scholarly basis to excite his students."

In 2002 Professor Maier was awarded a Stephen Cole the Elder Prize for Excellence in Teaching - the highest honour bestowed within the University of Adelaide for teaching excellence. He was also the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) in the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences.

Professor McWha said Professor Maier's award caps off an exceptional year for the University's teaching staff who have also received one Associate Fellowship and seven Citations for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.

For more information contact Professor Holger Maier.