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Lecturer wins PM's teaching award

3 December 2008

Professor Stephen Barkoczy

Monash University Law Professor Stephen Barkoczy has won the 2008 Prime Minister's University Teacher of the Year Award.

It is only the second time that a Monash academic has been honoured in this way and the first in a decade.

Professor Barkoczy was recognised for making the difficult subject of taxation law interesting and engaging for students. He was presented with the prestigious award at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra last week.

Professor Barkoczy was chosen from 22 university teachers who this year received an Australian Award for University Teaching from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC).

The $50,000 Prime Minister's Award is reserved for outstanding teachers who have an exceptional record of advancing student learning, educational leadership and scholarly contribution to teaching.

The quality of candidates this year was so high that two PM's Awards were given: one to Professor Barkoczy and one to Macquarie University historian, Marnie Hughes-Warrington.

Professor Barkoczy has been a teacher and researcher at Monash University for 20 years and is also a consultant to major Australian law firm Blake Dawson. His main areas of expertise are taxation law, superannuation law and venture capital law.

Professor Barkoczy said he actively blended his research and practice into his teaching and focused on illustrating to students how complex taxation principles were applied commercially.

"I make an effort to bring the issues I come across through my consulting and research into the classroom," Professor Barkoczy said.

He said he often used public commercial documents, in addition to his textbooks, to illustrate how tax law is applied in practice.

"In my advanced tax classes, we often work from the documents back to the law rather than concentrate purely on theory," Professor Barkoczy said.

"I try to make it real for the students and get them to think laterally and creatively about how the law is applied."

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker congratulated Professor Barkoczy on his achievements.

"This is wonderful recognition for an outstanding University teacher," Professor Shoemaker said.

"I am sure I speak for all of Stephen's friends and colleagues and, of course, the Dean of Law, Professor Arie Freiberg, when I say this reward is well-deserved,"

The Australian Learning and Teaching Council promotes excellence in higher education by recognising, rewarding and supporting teachers and professional staff through a suite of award, fellowship and grant schemes.

Faculty of IT academic, Angela Carbone, was the only previous Monash University recipient of such an award in 1998.