Academic and Professional Leadership
Professor Tesar is currently the Head of School of Learning Development and Professional Practice, and the Associate Dean International at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, at the University of Auckland and is an internationally renowned early childhood education academic.
Background and Research
Professor Tesar’s international leadership roles include serving as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education (RECE), Immediate Past-President of Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA), Director of the Centre for Global Childhoods and the Chair of Early Years, Childhood Studies and Child Development Research and Teaching Hub. In 2020, Professor Tesar was appointed as a Research Fellow at SEAMEO to provide expertise on future research and development initiatives and programmes, and enhance cooperation in education, science and culture in Southeast Asia. In 2023, he was elected as Fellow of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA) for his distinguished contribution to the Society and Philosophy of Education. He also co-founded and co-leads COLAB (Collaborative Online Learning Across Borders), a teaching and research programme with universities in Australia, the USA, Sweden, Indonesia, and Nepal.
Professor Tesar holds an international BA and MA in Child Education and Psychology, and Teacher Training Certification from Comenius University, and a PhD from the University of Auckland.