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Victorias Awards
The Victorias Awards provide the opportunity to celebrate excellence within Victoria University of Wellington and recognise the support of the postgraduate students, academic and professional staff who inspire students with their verve and passion. Every year the PGSA hosts the Victorias Awards Reception at the end of November, where we announce Award winners in the following categories:
Research Excellence Awards
In 2009 Victoria University of Wellington established the Postgraduate Research Excellence Awards that recognises research by VUW postgraduate students which:
Displays academic rigour, excellence, originality, and/or creativity;
Demonstrates an impact within the scholarly, economic, or wider stakeholder communities;
Displays clarity of expression that addresses an educated but non-expert audience;
Advances knowledge in the field and/or contributes to knowledge.
Each award provides $1500 to recognise the research excellence demonstrated. The PGSA announces the winners of the awards at the Victorias Awards function in November.
Learn about applying for the research excellence awards here.
The Postgraduate Teaching Awards
Each year undergraduate students nominate and vote for postgraduate students who teach at VUW running lectures, labs or tutorials. The PGSA tallies the votes to find one finalist from each Faculty. Finalists are invited to the PGSA Victorias Awards Reception where we announce the winners.
PGSA Landers Postgraduate Award
Each year the faculties each nominate a postgraduate student who they think should be awarded for fostering the ideals of the Postgraduate Students’ Association - a student who has demonstrated a commitment to fostering camaraderie and collective consciousness among their colleagues in the postgraduate community. Postgraduates vote for the winner from the faculty nominees. Nominees are invited to the PGSA Victorias Awards Reception where we announce the winner.
Professional Staff Award
The Professional Staff Award recognises a staff member who has contributed to the postgraduate study experience at VUW. Any non-academic staff member is eligible for this award. Examples of the paces these people may work include, but are not limited to, Student Services, Student Learning, Victoria International, Student Financial Advice, Māori and Pasifika support, School or Faculty Administration, and the library. Postgraduate students nominate and vote for professional staff who inspired, helped beyond the call of duty, or simply made their time at VUW more enjoyable.
Supervisor Award
The Supervisor Award recognises our amazing supervisors who are available, intellectually stimulating, encourage research excellence, provide timely relevant feedback, facilitate our professional growth, and build our academic autonomy and capability. Each year postgraduates nominate postgraduate supervisors and testify about how they have met the criteria. Winners of these awards are announced at PGSA Victorias Awards Reception.
PGSA Life Membership Award
Each year the PGSA recognises postgraduate students who have made outstanding contributions to the postgraduate community serving on the PGSA executive or as a committee representative. The PGSA Executive Committee vote on this award.
Above and Beyond Award
The PGSA recognises those at the univeristy who have exceeded every expectation of their call of duty and made exceptional contributions to the postgraduate community. The PGSA Executive Committee vote on this award.