Background to the 2020 awards
At the end of Semester 1 students were asked (via an independent survey) to nominate an inspirational teacher and/or someone who had made a similar contribution to their experience outside the classroom. Students were also asked to provide a comment in support of their nomination.
Research students were asked to nominate inspirational research supervisors through the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES). The selection process was similar to those outlined below.
Inspirational Teaching and Outstanding Student Support
A total of 2479 nominations were received nominating 840 individual staff for either an inspirational teaching award, outstanding student support or outstanding academic advising across all Colleges and Directorates. The number of nominations was comparable with the previous year.
The selection process for the Inspirational Teaching Awards has followed the same methodology as previous years.
During April/May, each college convened a panel to consider their nominations and used the criteria below to assess the impact the nominees have had on their students. Nominations were anonymised so that individual staff could not be identified. Each College made 12 awards, and these went forward as nominations for a University Inspirational Teaching Award. Similarly, 2 staff were given a College Award for Outstanding Student Support and were nominated for a University Award. A further 6 awards were made for Outstanding Student Support within Directorates, which were also nominated for a University Award.
In total 36 staff have been nominated for a University Inspirational Teaching Award and 12 staff for a University Outstanding Student Support Award.
The University Panel met on 29 June 2020 chaired by Dr Neil McKay, along with Elaine Buckley, Rebecca Hodgson, Emma Heron, Claire Gandy, Andrew Adegbola, Mel Lindley and Samantha Giove.
Criteria
Inspirational Teaching Award
- Fostering enthusiasm for their subject and inspiring student engagement with learning
- Raising academic attainment by challenging students to achieve their full potential
- Transformational impact on students in their transition in, through and out of their programme of study.
Outstanding Student Support
- Supporting students and enabling them to achieve
- Impact on student retention and progression
- Providing exceptional support above and beyond what might normally be expected.
The panel made 22 Inspirational Teaching Awards and 5 Outstanding Student Support awards. Three winners also received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award, having won a University Inspirational Teaching Award or Outstanding Student Support Award on three separate occasions.
Inspirational Research Supervisor Nominations
A total of 63 nominations were received, nominating 84 members of staff, which were then considered by a panel chaired by Professor Doug Cleaver, Director of the Doctoral School.
The panel made 4 Inspirational Research Supervisor Awards and 1 award for Outstanding Student Support.