Classics named best course at inaugural teaching awards

There was a red carpet; there was bunting; there was even a spotlight for the winners. As Edinburgh University Students’ Union’s own version of the Oscars, Wednesday night saw the inaugural results ceremony of EUSA’s teaching awards – a new system designed to enable students to reward their most valued tutors and lecturers.

In a ceremony presided over by newly-elected rector, Ian Macwhirter, trophies were handed out to ten tutors and lecturers considered representative of the best teaching the University has to offer.

The awards come following the University of Edinburgh’s disastrous results in the 2008 National Student Survey. The university came bottom or near the bottom for almost every course in the assessment and feedback category – a result which left student representatives and university officials scratching their heads for ways to improve the academic experience of students at the institution.

Speaking to The Journal, EUSA Vice President Academic Affairs Guy Bromley said: “I spoke in my election over a year ago about the need for proper recognition and reward for university teaching and, remembering how happy a Guardian Teaching Award had made my sixth form economics teacher, thought trying out teaching awards at Edinburgh University might be worth a shot. Little did I expect that over 2,700 nominations would be put forward for over 600 academic staff.

“It’s normally my job to be critical of the University, but here there’s nothing to be critical of. Huge swathes of academic staff are massively talented and loved by their students. One of the award winners emailed me to tell me how much he enjoyed teaching, but until receiving an award last night, felt this commitment had gone largely unrecognised.”

As part of the evening—which saw classics named the best course, and Elizabeth Bomberg from Politics and International Relations handed the “overall high performer” gong—a collection of around 150 students, shortlisted staff and university officials as well as higher education bosses from across the UK gathered for a three course sit-down meal in Teviot’s debating hall

Widely hailed as a success by those present, the awards attracted a total of 2,704 nominations for 621 members of staff, 191 courses and 60 departments – ahead of the numbers expected to fill out the online application in the award’s first year.

From these nomination, a panel from EUSA selected 20 shortlisted staff members and courses across ten categories, with the winners announced at Wednesday’s event.

Speaking at the awards, Tonks Fawcett, a senior lecturer in nursing studies who topped the “commitment to all-round teaching” category, said: “The students were so full of enthusiasm – they made it such an enjoyable evening. It was like the Baftas.”

Since Wednesday, the organisers of the awards have also been recognised in Holyrood, after MSP for the mid Scotland and Fife region, Claire Baker proposed a parliamentary motion in praise of the scheme. The motion, supported by MSPs including George Foulkes, Robin Harper and Sarah Boyack, commends the awards as "a positive way for students to push for high standards of teaching, especially in research-intensive institutions."

The weight of expectation now sits squarely upon university authorities as staff and students wait to see how the institution will respond to calls to increase the value placed upon quality teaching. A court away day was held last month on the topic of “improving the student experience,” whereat ideas regarding teaching and feedback were discussed, though no clear proposals have emerged from the forum.

Presenting one award, Head of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences April Macmahon praised the students’ association for their initiative, adding that the university was perhaps a little behind in providing incentives for good teachers.

Vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Tim O’Shea also added his congratulations: “This is a great scheme and a wonderful initiative on the part of our students. I know that colleagues who've been nominated are delighted and have taken great motivation from having their efforts recognised in this way.”

Referring to the university’s positive response to the event, Mr Bromley said: “The recent shift in the University’s culture needs to be properly embedded; teaching is the number one reason for its existence, and good teachers need to be given their deserved place as the stars of this University.”

He added: “I cannot thank enough EUSA Reps, my fellow sabbaticals, EUSA staff, particularly Craig Stewart and Jackie Laird in Potterrow as well as all the catering and entertainments crew that made last night, the culmination of EUSA Teaching Awards 08/09 such a success. Robert Jenkin, this year’s Teaching and Learning Convener has been a fantastic partner in crime, and deserves enormous credit. Roll on EUSA Teaching Awards 2009/10!”