The pair have been honoured with citations for outstanding contributions to student learning as part of the Australian Awards for University Teaching. 

Leopold Bayerlein was recognised for successfully motivating and inspiring accounting students “through highly supportive teaching in an immersive, virtual internship environment for blended and online learning”, while colleague Fredy-Roberto Valenzuela received his award for “helping distance education students understand and apply core marketing concepts through the development of resources that allow mental model building”. 

UNE vice-chancellor  Annabelle Duncan congratulated both.

“On behalf of the whole UNE community I wish to extend my wholehearted congratulations to both Dr Bayerlein and Dr Valenzuela for their innovative approaches and their dedication to teaching and students,” she said. 

The pair were among four UNE members of staff recognised by the university back in August and then nominated for the national awards.