Professor Vijay Kumar Mallan from the University of Otago has received the ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Programs and Support for his work leading the Otago Doctoral Supervision Programme, or ODSP.

This university-wide initiative has made a significant and lasting impact on the way doctoral supervision is approached at Otago. Grounded in research and designed in collaboration with the Graduate Research School, the ODSP offers a comprehensive program of workshops that help supervisors better support their candidates.

The program stands out for its strong focus on mental health, sustainability, and inclusive practice, and it thoughtfully integrates Māori and Pacific perspectives throughout. Key elements of the ODSP have been presented at 45 universities in 15 countries, underlining its influence well beyond New Zealand.