Teaching 'Oscars' set to award university lecturers for excellence at work

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 21:05

LECTURERS across Scotland are to be rewarded for their teaching talents with new university "Oscars".

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh will tonight hold a ceremony for staff who students believe have excelled in teaching.

It is the second students' association in Scotland to run such awards after a successful pilot by Edinburgh University last year.

The joint project with the Higher Education Academy and NUS Scotland will support eight students' associations to recognise lecturers that go above and beyond for students.

Strathclyde, Abertay and Edinburgh Universities are all holding awards later this month, and the University of the West of Scotland, the University of the Highlands and Islands and Glasgow Caledonian are hosting events later in the year.

It is hoped the project will encourage and recognise good teaching, after accusations that universities value research work over teaching students.

The awards have seen students vote in categories such as I Love My Tutor, Outstanding Teacher, Innovative Teacher and Teaching in an International Context.

It is also hoped the ceremonies can showcase good teaching and help universities improve.

Alastair Robertson, Higher Education Academy Head of Policy and Partnerships, Scotland, said: "Recent research published by the academy shows a gap between how teaching is recognised by comparison with research in higher education institutions.

"It is great to see students doing something positive to celebrate the excellent lecturers the Scottish sector is fortunate to have."

Liam Burns, President of NUS Scotland said: "It is incredible the difference which can be made to a student's life by a lecturer who is willing to go above and beyond. "Scotland has some of the best academics in the world and it is about time we started shouting about it."