Annual Learning and Teaching Awards 2004 Results

The winners of the fourth annual Learning and Teaching in Economics Awards have been announced. The awards, organised the Economics Network of the HE Academy, aim to recognise and reward exemplary practice from within the academic economics community.

Several nominations were received across the categories of Outstanding Teaching and Student Nominated and both judging panels were very impressed with the high quality of nominating statements.

Prof. Nancy Devlin of City University has been awarded the Outstanding Teaching prize. Her commitment, innovation and quality of teaching across a range of economics courses were highly praised. Some of the comments from the judging panel included:

"Clearly a committed teacher with excellent all round skills and keen to adopt innovative practices."

"This for me was an outstanding nomination, meeting each of the criteria. Despite the other pressures faced by all academics, Nancy is clearly a committed teacher who has spent considerable time designing and developing her courses."

"I was impressed by this nomination for the all-round commitment to good teaching practice. This covers a wide range of different aspects of teaching, and seems to be widely recognised within her institution and beyond."

The panel also awarded two special commendations to Dr. Laurence Lasselle of the University of St. Andrews and Dr. Don Webber of the University of the West of England.

The judging panel for the Student Nominated Award has chosen Dr. Nigel Duck from Bristol University as the overall winner. We received a record number of nominations this year and it was ultimately felt that his nomination displayed all the qualities of commitment, enthusiasm, innovation and evident success that represent excellent teaching practice.

This teacher is rather unique in that three student nominations were submitted. Students told us that "he was also very helpful outside lecture times and organised optional clinics for various topics which the majority of the class found difficult." Judges assessing the nominations commented:

"This suggests a teacher who is prepared to take additional time outside of scheduled hours to meet student needs. This demonstrates a commitment to teaching that goes beyond the basic requirement and which many teachers would not consider doing."

"He scores on the quality of explanations in his lectures, his ability to engage students in lectures, making students feel at home and getting the best out of them in tutorials, running optional clinics, being helpful to students outside classes and providing informative handouts."

Winners each receive £250 in gift tokens and free attendance to the forthcoming Developments in Economics Education Conference.