Highest ever nominations for Humanities in Student Guild Teaching Awards

The Guild Teaching Awards, now in their third year, give students the chance to acknowledge their favourite staff members at the University  and say ‘thank you’ to those who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

Humanities are a strong contender to win the overall University award this year for the ‘Best Subject’, with English and History claiming two of the three highly sought after final positions.  Many staff members, such as Isabel Moros in the Department of Modern Languages, have featured every year, a sign that the same people and subjects are continually exceeding expectations.

Archaeology, History and Theology and Religion staff are also in the running for the prestigious ‘Best Lecturer’ award, together claiming three of the five final positions.

Tim Rees, Senior Lecturer in History said, “This is the second nomination I have received since the Guild initiated these awards in 2010, alongside many other nominations and awards for History - also a contender for ‘Best Subject’ this year. A particular pleasure is knowing that it is our students who put forward suggestions for these awards, and that our efforts in teaching and supporting them are valued and appreciated in a time of great change in Higher Education.”

Other highlights include Bruce Bradley in Archaeology, nominated in two categories, ‘Innovative Teaching’ and ‘Best Feedback Provider’.  Yelena Gedge from the Department of Modern Languages and Siam Bhayro from Theology and Religion, are also shortlisted for the 'Best Feedback Provider' award.  Alex Ratcliffe, the College’s Graduate Business Partner placement, has been nominated for the ‘Change Agents Champion’ award for staff helping students change their learning experience for the better.

A record 2,021 individual nominations were received for this year’s Teaching Awards, with a staggering 717 Humanities nominations.

In previous years, Humanities successes have included winning the ‘Best Research Community’ in Classics and Ancient History, Drama winning the ‘Best Subject’ and the ‘Most Supportive Member of Staff’ going to Jay Pengelly, the Department Administrator for History in Cornwall.

Comments made by students about staff members during the nomination process were overwhelmingly positive.  One student said about a Humanities staff member, “His passion for the subject is inspirational and empowering. Seminars are fantastic places of brilliant debate and for the sharing of new ideas and theories. The way he leads seminars brings out the very best in people in terms of their intellect, their ideas and their confidence. I don't think there is anyone on the planet that could do this better.”

The winners in each category are now being considered for the overall University level award, the results will be announced at a ceremony in the University’s Great Hall on 3 May 2012.
 
The full shortlist can be viewed on the main University website and more information can also be found on the Student’s Guild website.  James Eales, Academic Affairs Officer at the Guild has also written an article about the Teaching Awards in The Guardian newspaper online.