Teaching Prize 2013 - Outstanding teaching honoured: University of Oldenburg awards Teaching Prize

Ten lecturers at the university honoured

In November, a total of ten lecturers at the University were awarded the "Teaching Prize" for the 2012/13 academic year by the Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Prof. Dr Gunilla Budde. The prize in the "Best Module" category went to lecturers Prof Dr Dirk Albach, Dr Bernhard von Hagen, Prof Dr Rainer Buchwald, Dr Katarzyna Palinska, Dr Cord Peppler-Lisbach and Thomas Schmidt from the Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences. In the "Best Event" category, two lecturers impressed with their concepts this year: environmental and development economist Prof. Dr Klaus Eisenack and philosopher Prof. Dr Reinhard Schulz. The two chemists Prof. Dr Thorsten Klüner and Robert Röhse were honoured in the category "Particularly successful instructions for independent scientific work and research". The winners receive 500 euros in prize money as well as earmarked personnel funds for teaching.

^{Photo (from left to right): Michael Wefers (UGO), Dipl.-Chem. Robert Röhse, Prof. Dr Thorsten Klüner, apl. Prof. Dr Reinhard Schulz, Prof. Dr Klaus Eisenack, Prof. Dr Rainer Buchwald, Dr Cord Peppler-Lisbach, Dr Klaus Bernhard von Hagen, Prof. Dr Dirk Carl Albach, Dipl.-Biol. Thomas Schmidt, Prof. Dr Gunilla Budde}

With the Teaching Prize, the University of Oldenburg is focussing attention on the teaching and learning processes at the university. The award for outstanding university teaching is intended to publicly recognise the commitment of lecturers and at the same time serve as an incentive and role model. The nomination for the award is made by the students. "Positive re-registering student feedback is very important for the motivation of lecturers. Outstanding teaching and excellent research are areas that complement each other and make for an attractive university with well-educated graduates," emphasises Prof. Dr Gunilla Budde, Vice President for Studies and Teaching.
The University of Oldenburg has been honouring outstanding achievements by university lecturers in teaching and supervision since 1998. The jury that decides on the award consists of lecturers, students and representatives of the Universitätsgesellschaft Oldenburg e.V. (UGO).

The "Teaching Prize" 2012/13 is sponsored by the UGO.

The award winners at a glance

Category: Best module

Prof Dr Dirk Albach, Dr Bernhard von Hagen, Dr Katarzyna Palinska, Thomas Schmidt, Prof Dr Rainer Buchwald, Dr Cord Peppler-Lisbach, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences
Module: "In-depth module on the evolution and ecology of plants"

From the jury's statement: diverse teaching methods provide different approaches to the topic, comprehensive methodological knowledge, access to new technologies, model-based teaching of interrelationships in conjunction with practical experience

Category: Best event

Prof Dr Klaus Eisenack, Department of Economics and Law
Course: "Environmental Policy"

From the jury's statement: Successful linking of theory and practice, exploration of a complex topic through the use of diverse methods, promotion of independent discussion of the course topic

Category: Best event

Prof. Dr Reinhard Schulz, Institute of Philosophy
Event: "Socratic Conversation"

From the jury statement: Method and subject of the course as a coherent unit, successful and contemporary implementation of an "old" concept, which is thus directly experienced and reflected upon by the students, practice of central thought and communication processes

Category: Particularly successful instructions for independent academic work and research

Prof. Dr Thorsten Klüner and Robert Röhse, Institute of Chemistry
Course: "Introduction to Quantum Chemistry"

From the jury's statement: Successful integration of students in the research process, goal-oriented guidance for independent scientific work, new teaching form "Theoretikum" successfully introduced