Tuesday 14 June 2016 11:31am
L-R Nick Wright, designer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Professor Richard Blaikie and Karen Hogg, Editorial Manager, University of Otago with copies of the winning publication.
He Kitenga Global, the University of Otago's 2015 research publication, has won gold in the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.
CASE (the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) is one of the largest international associations of education institutions and its Circle of Excellence programme recognises outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications and marketing among its members worldwide.
More than 3300 entries were received for this year’s awards with Otago earning its award in the Institutional Relations Publications (Research Publications) category.
He Kitenga is published annually to raise the profile of University of Otago research to a wide audience. This latest edition focused on work with a global impact – research that is addressing some of the most pressing international issues and touching the lives of people around the world. About 2000 of the 4200 printed copies of He Kitenga Global were sent out internationally.
The award judges commented on how much they loved the entry and wanted to read it front to back: "The report captured the global impact of the institution’s research and gave recognition to their funding resources. The visuals and graphics were all excellent especially the cover and use of the world map throughout.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Professor Richard Blaikie, says “we aim for excellence in everything that we do, so are clearly very excited to have received this highest accolade for our most important public-facing research publication which promotes our outstanding researchers at the highest level in the boardrooms and on the display shelves of our stakeholders.
"Together with many letters we have received from around the world commenting on the quality of this publication, it was particularly pleasing to see the way the judges acknowledged that this edition of He Kitenga captured the global impact of University of Otago research.”
Karen Hogg, the editorial manager in the University of Otago's Marketing and Communications, says the award highlights the importance of producing print publications with high-end production values encompassing creative and quality photography, fresh design, well-constructed stories and high-end print.
"Print continues to be a vital medium through which to promote the University and the research work it does. People still want to hold something in their hands and read it at their leisure - and He Kitenga Global was a particularly tactile publication, from the quality of its cover to the paper within.
"Otago has so many great stories to tell across all its campuses and academic divisions. In the 13 years I have been in this role I have never been short of a story to tell and the challenge is what to leave out, rather than what to put in.”
The work of graphic designer Nick Wright from Workshop D in producing such an appealing publication has also been acknowledged. He says it is an enjoyable project to be involved in because it has all the right ingredients.
"The production values for He Kitenga have always been high and you can't go too far wrong when you have beautiful photos and great stories to work with.”
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