Friday, May 4, 2012

Outstanding Educator Award 2012

The University Awards 2012 was held on May 4, 2012 to honour nine exceptional individuals for their excellence in education, research and service to the University, to Singapore and the global community. In his address for the University Awards 2012, NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan highlighted that, “excellence results from the individual’s deep desire to be exceptional and constantly do better. Yet it can be multidimensional, touching the life of others and having an impact on society in many different ways.”
Photo: Receiving the OEA award from NUS President
The Outstanding Educator Award (OEA) is given annually to honour faculty members in NUS who have shown outstanding performance, dedication and commitment to teaching. The citation read by Professor Tan Eng Chye, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost of NUS is as follows: 
 
“Associate Professor Joseph Ooi is a highly skilled and versatile teacher. He excels at lecturing and tutoring a broad range of subjects and is equally adept at teaching undergraduates, graduates and executives. He engages students through innovative approaches and various pedagogical means, such as case studies, storytelling and role playing.
 
A devoted teacher, Joseph enjoys interacting with students and cares for their well-being and personal development. He constantly keeps a lookout for students who need extra help, and adopts an “open door” policy for informal consultations and chit-chat sessions.
 
Joseph’s students have benefitted immensely from his supervision and personal mentorship. Some of them, have co-published their research with Joseph in top journals and have even gone on to win best paper awards at international conferences.
 
Beyond teaching, Joseph has spearheaded a number of notable educational enhancements within his Faculty. Amongst others, Joseph led the revamp of the Master of Science in Real Estate; he developed a new specialisation in real estate for the MBA programme, and pioneered an executive programme in Real Estate Finance.
 
In recognition of his contributions, Joseph has received six teaching awards from NUS. He also won the NUS Young Researcher Award in 2005 and the International Real Estate Society’s Achievement Award in 2008.
 
Joseph is a role model who embodies and fosters academic excellence at NUS; he is a truly deserving recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Educator Award.  My heartiest congratulations to Associate Professor Joseph Ooi.”