February 26, 2026
Teaching excellence recognised nationally as student outcomes take centre stage
Dr Amanda Rita Gigliotti and Dr Laura Rook recognised in prestigious Australian Awards for University Teaching
Two University of Wollongong (UOW) academics have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to teaching and learning at the 2026 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT), announced on Tuesday, 24 February, during the Universities Australia conference in Canberra.
Dr Amanda Rita Gigliotti from the School of Education and Dr Laura Rook from the School of Business received the prestigious Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. The citations recognise and reward the diverse, sustained contributions by individuals and teams to the quality of student learning.
“These highly competitive national honours highlight UOW’s commitment to transformative, student-centred teaching and learning. I’m delighted to see our academics’ outstanding efforts and tremendous impact on student learning celebrated on the national stage,” Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Helen Partridge said.
Dr Amanda Rita Gigliotti, Associate Dean Education in the Faculty of Arts, Society and Business and Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, specialises in technology‑enhanced learning. Her research interests lie in exploring digital pedagogies and the design of inclusive online learning environments. She has led initiatives that strengthen educator capacity to digitalise education and has mentored more than 250 academics globally across diverse disciplines and career stages.
“Receiving this national award is a true honour. It recognises my commitment to designing inclusive digital learning experiences that empower all students to feel supported, valued, and positioned for success,” Dr Gigliotti said.
Dr Laura Rook is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business whose work focuses on designing innovative work-integrated learning experiences that support student professional identity development, critical thinking, ethical reasoning and self-regulated learning. Her expertise in curriculum design fosters reflective practice and uses technology to enrich learning and improve student outcomes.
“Receiving the AAUT award is incredibly meaningful and recognises something I care deeply about – supporting students as they learn, grow and discover who they want to be. My passion has always been helping students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in real‑world settings where they can solve problems, work with others, and see their own potential in action,” Dr Rook said.