Lecturers set to win prizes from students

Published on Sunday 30 November 2008 21:05

AT A university you might expect lecturers to be the ones handing out the awards. But at one university, the roles will be reversed when students give out prizes to their teachers.

Edinburgh is understood to be the first university in Scotland where students will host an Oscar-style awards ceremony to recognise the efforts of their teachers.

Tomorrow Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA) will open nominations for categories including best communicator and innovation.

EUSA said the move, which is backed by lecturers, will recognise good teaching at the university after Edinburgh fared badly in a recent student satisfaction survey.

Robert Jenkin, teaching and learning convener of EUSA, said: "Teaching is the most important thing, but universities are under pressure to conduct research to secure funding. We think this is a way to encourage staff to prioritise teaching over research."

He stressed both the economy and universities themselves need well-taught graduates to ensure tomorrow's employees and researchers are as good as today's.

He added: "While there are other universities which have award schemes, to our knowledge these are the only university-wide awards which are run by students."

He said most staff had received the idea favourably although some would always see research as their priority over teaching. He added: "In general staff see it as a positive thing because if they win they can use it to get on the promotion ladder for teaching."

A ceremony is planned for April where the students will present the awards. There are ten categories: outstanding communicator; best dissertation supervisor; detailed, useful feedback; most organised course; innovative teaching methods; commitment to all-round teaching; overall high performer; overall best department; helping students gain employable skills; and best director of studies.

A panel of elected student representatives will form a judging panel to select the winners.

Edinburgh University has backed the idea. A spokeswoman said: "We welcome these awards which recognise the vital role that lecturers play in shaping the experience of students at university and we are happy to support them."

Universities and College Union (UCU), a lecturers representative body, were also supportive. Tony Axon from UCU said: "We are always concerned that good teachers aren't promoted and don't get on in big research-led organisations. Anything that recognises and increases the importance of good teaching, particularly at a big research-led institution like Edinburgh, is a good thing."

However, if lecturers are hoping for a cash prize for winning they will be disappointed. Mr Jenkin added: "We are hoping to get trophies, but I think it would defeat the point to give out monetary prizes so it will be more a case of recognition."

BACKGROUND

STUDENTS at some of the UK's top universities were unhappy with their course, according to a survey released earlier this year. Among the most common criticisms were poor teaching and lack of support from staff.

However, in this year's Student Satisfaction Survey, 82.5 per cent of Edinburgh University students expressed overall satisfaction with their course. That figure is up 0.5 per cent from last year, as collated by the National Student Survey.

The statistic meant Edinburgh ranked joint 105th for student satisfaction in the UK. Experts believe a strong emphasis on research, which attracts additional funding, has led to undergraduate teaching being neglected.

Students at St Andrews were the most satisfied in Scotland, followed by those at Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and Napier.

The satisfaction rating is based on data from the government's National Student Survey, which asks 220,000 final-year undergraduates for their assessment of their degree.