Ravini Abhayarathne
Highly Commended, Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Tutoring or Demonstrating
College of Business and Economics
Synopsis
Ravini is a final-year PhD candidate at the Research School of Management whose teaching is shaped by prior lecturing experience in Sri Lanka, industry-informed MBA training, and doctoral research in entrepreneurship. Across entrepreneurship and international business courses, she begins by understanding who is in the room, tailoring her approach to students’ needs through practical, real-world examples. The result is an inclusive learning environment where complex concepts become accessible and engaging, an approach recognised through the 2025 ANU CBE Award for Excellence in Tutoring and consistently strong SELT results.
She collaborates with course convenors on curriculum and material development and uses student feedback to continuously refine her teaching. Students consistently highlight her approachability, clarity, and supportive guidance. Grounded in constructive alignment, active learning, and experiential pedagogy, her teaching builds learner capability, confidence, and independence.
In lectures, she encourages active participation through interactive tools and activities. In tutorials, structured small-group discussions help students find their footing before contributing to broader class conversations. She also guides students through multi-week projects, providing timely feedback and translating assessment criteria into clear, actionable steps for improvement.
As Lead Tutor, Ravini serves as a trusted link between students and convenors, stepping into teaching gaps when needed and sharing effective practices with colleagues. Ultimately, her goal is to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become informed and capable future leaders in business and management.
(Photo by Tangyao Zhang/Teaching Communities and Recognition team).