Faculty members from the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) received awards at this year's NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Awards (ATEA).
The ATEA recognises faculty members’ achievements in teaching, including instruction, educational design, assessment and feedback, as well as wider adoption of good practices in these areas through leadership and support of other colleagues. It also recognises achievements in developing innovative technology-enhanced learning through thoughtful integration of appropriate technology with teaching
Honour Roll – Individual Award
Faculty members who have been awarded either the ATEA or Annual Digital Education Award (ADEA) three times (since AY 03/04) will be placed on the Honour Roll to honour their sustained high performance in teaching.
"Teaching is a privilege because it allows me to shape not just what students know but also helping them grow from problem-solvers into empathetic innovators. This recognition is deeply meaningful because it affirms the value of creating authentic, community-engaged learning experiences that bring engineering from the classroom into the real world. It's so fulfilling when students see engineering not only as a technical discipline, but as a way to serve communities, respond with empathy, and create meaningful impact."
Associate Professor James Kah (Department of Biomedical Engineering)
Individual Awards
“In my teaching, I strive to integrate architectural theory and practice as much as possible. Students need to be able to apply skills which are founded on a strong theoretical basis, and develop the capacity to learn from historical precedents. I see this award as recognition of that pedagogical need.”
Associate Professor Francois Blanciak (Department of Architecture)
My teaching is inspired by the continued exchange of ideas with my students as a new generation of landscape architects stakes their position and place in the world.
Assistant Professor Dorothy Tang Shun Wai (Department of Architecture)
“I've learned a lot from my wife, a UX (user experience) designer. For me, teaching is about creating an experience in which students feel curious and willing to explore. Just as good user experience is designed around people’s needs, good teaching must be designed around how students learn. This recognition encourages me to continue creating interactive experiences (e.g., live demonstrations, interactive online platforms) that make difficult ideas visible, meaningful, and memorable.”
Assistant Professor Lei Jiarui, Gary (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
“Teaching fluid mechanics is about helping students see the real physical world behind the equations. I find it most rewarding when students move from finding a concept abstract and difficult to confidently applying it in experiments, engineering projects, and real-world problem-solving. This recognition affirms my commitment to making challenging engineering subjects engaging, accessible, and meaningful.”
Assistant Professor Li Yuzhu, Pearl (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
“As an educator, I believe the best learning happens when students actively create, experiment, reflect, and learn from one another. By bringing together students from diverse backgrounds in design, engineering, and business, I aim to cultivate an interdisciplinary mindset that encourages them to approach real-world challenges with creativity, empathy, and technical confidence. The greatest reward for me is seeing students grow into independent thinkers and innovators who are not only capable of developing new technologies but also committed to creating meaningful solutions for society.”
Dr Cai Shaoyu (Engineering Design and Innovation Centre)
Team award
“For us, good teaching means allowing students to take ownership of their learning. Our reward is seeing them grow from learners into investigators.”
Team leader: Associate Professor Olivier Patrick Lefebvre (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Team member: Dr Orlando Garcia-Rodriguez (NUS Environmental Research Institute)
