UC celebrates education visionary Graham Nuthall

Photo caption: Executive Dean Education Professor Joce Nuttall, Professor John Everatt, and Darran Roberts, joined by Graham Nuthall's whanau. 

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) Faculty of Education hosted the flagship event, celebrating the late UC Emeritus Professor Graham Nuthall whose work is internationally recognised for its contribution to educational equity and learning research. 

Professor Nuthall (1935-2004) was a pioneering classroom researcher whose studies revealed how subtle teacher–student interactions shape learning. His work, widely published and honoured, continues to guide evidence-based education around the world. 

To honour his legacy, the symposium brought together researchers, teachers, alumni, students and Professor Nuthall’s friends and family to inspire new ideas and explore the latest advances in evidence-based education. 

This year’s lecture was presented by UC’s Director of the Centre for Assessment and Monitoring (CAM) Professor John Everatt who explored how high-quality assessment can drive real improvements in student learning. Everatt was joined by Darran Roberts, a teacher at Southland Boys’ High School, who demonstrated practical classroom examples of CAM assessments, together showing how schools can use assessment results to monitor progress and guide teaching. 

For more than two decades, CAM has supported Aotearoa schools to understand student learning and growth, providing research-based assessment tools and surveys that help teachers, whānau and learners make sense of progress and engagement. Under Professor Everatt’s leadership, CAM is expanding its role in helping schools use data meaningfully to support every learner.

UC PhD students presented their research on posters, initiating new connections with educators and researchers from around New Zealand. Guests were also invited to attend pop-up presentations by UC’s Professor Jayne White, Dr Tufulasi Taleni, Associate Professor Richard Manning and Professor Misty Sato. 

Executive Dean of Education Professor Joce Nuttall officially opened the event, saying it was a privilege to have members of Graham Nuthall’s whānau there to honour his enduring impact. She encouraged guests to share ideas, ask questions and keep the conversation going. 

The symposium reaffirmed UC’s commitment to advancing evidence-based education and shaping the future of learning in Aotearoa. Emeritus Professor Nuthall’s legacy endures in every effort to understand, support, and enrich the learning experience.