Faculty Teaching Award Winners

2026: Dr. Kevin Cai

Dr. Kevin Cai, Professor in the Renison School of Social Sciences and Humanities, is being recognized with Renison’s Faculty Award in Teaching in celebration of his outstanding teaching, pedagogical innovation, and strong commitment to student learning. A cornerstone of the East Asian Studies program, Dr. Cai has played a central role for many years, most notably through his leadership of EASIA 100R: Introduction to East Asia, the program’s gateway course. Through the sustained teaching of this large-enrolment course, he has ensured academic rigour and curricular stability while expanding access to the study of East Asia. Dr. Cai’s teaching is widely admired for its intellectual depth, inclusivity, and emphasis on critical and cross-cultural analysis. His innovative redesign of EASIA 100R as a fully online course has significantly expanded accessibility and enriched student engagement through carefully structured modules, multimedia resources, and scaffolded assignments. Across his teaching, Dr. Cai integrates theory with applied learning through debates, media analysis, and research projects that build students’ analytical and real-world problem-solving skills. Student testimonials highlight his clarity, effectiveness, and subject expertise. Through his sustained impact and dedication to meaningful learning, Dr. Cai exemplifies excellence in teaching, and this award is a well-earned recognition of his contributions.