The students at Health have named the lecturers of the year for a number of degree programmes. The award is given to lecturers who have done something extraordinary – particularly in the last eighteen months, during which time Covid-19 has been daily fixture.

2021.09.09 | Eva Kristina Hindby Koszyczarek

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Denmark in 2020, it turned the daily life of both students and teaching staff at Health upside down. For the majority, physical attendance was replaced by virtual teaching – and that demand flexibility. Now, three board of studies at Health have named their lecturers of the year, all of whom have succeeded in helping the students negotiate a difficult time characterised by restrictions and constant change.

Means more than a professorship

One of the award winners is Emeritus Professor Susan Rydahl-Hansen, who teaches on the Master's degree programme in Nursing. She is extremely pleased to receive recognition from the students.

"I was actually more pleased to receive the Lecturer of the Year award than when I got my professorship! The award strengthens my pedagogical approach and the pedagogical considerations I’ve gone through,” says Susan Rydahl-Hansen.

She makes no secret of the fact that being a lecturer during the coronavirus shutdown was a challenge.

"Virtual teaching has been a pedagogical challenge but it has also confirmed to me how much I normally use my senses, interaction and personality when I meet the students in my teaching. What I’ve learned as a lecturer during the shutdown is that it’s good it’s over," she says.

Relations are crucial for teaching

Specialist teacher Britt Hansen Bomberg, who teaches the practical part of the dental surgery assistant and dental technician programmes, is also one of the award winners this year. In her teaching, she makes a virtue out of getting close to the students.

"I try to get to know them as well as possible to be able to differentiate the teaching. There is a lot of peer-to-peer training during the practical part of the programme, so I ensure close relations and work individually with the students. Learning takes place through the close relationship and my pedagogical approach, and in my experience the students feel they’re in safe hands with me,” says Britt Hansen Bomberg, who also appreciates the recognition:

“The award means a great deal to me. I'm both happy and proud that the students have nominated me. I really enjoy the culture and atmosphere, which buzzes with knowledge and learning, and for me it's really unique to be part of such an environment," she says.

Important to focus on good teaching

According to student Nanna Nissen from the Master's degree programme in Nursing, it is also important as a student to have the opportunity to acknowledge the lecturers who do something special.

"My impression is that my fellow students appreciate being able to recognise talented lecturers who make an extra effort and really make their teaching special. I see the award as a good initiative, because it focuses on good teaching. And that’s positive for us as students," says Nanna Nissen, who also describes what she thinks characterises talented lecturers:

"Lecturers who allow room for reflection along the way, and who aren’t afraid to challenge us students a little and provoke and inspire us to learn. There should be something at stake in the lectures and we should feel that we're making progress," she says.

Like Nanna Nissen, Vice-Dean for Education Lise Wogensen Bach believes that it is important to focus on good teaching.

"First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the award winners with the recognition that receiving the Lecturer of the Year award represents. The lecturers have a great deal of influence on the learning that the students acquire, and it’s important that we recognise those who do a particularly good job," says Lise Wogensen Bach.

Each lecturer also receives a cash prize of DKK 5,000.

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The award recipients are:

• Susan Rydahl-Hansen, Master’s degree programme in Nursing
• Niels Trolle Andersen, Master’s degree programme in Health Science
• Mads Juul, Department of Dentistry
• Jan Hejle, Department of Dentistry - Oral Health
• Britt Hansen Bomberg, Clinical Dental Technician - Oral Health

The boards of studies at medicine and public health science select their lecturer of the year later in the year. At sports science, students first choose the lecturer of the year in 2022.

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Facts:

• The lecturer of the year is chosen by the students at Health.
• The students choose one award winner per board of studies.
• For boards of studies with several degree programmes, the award may be shared between several lecturers.
• This year it has been possible to select two lecturers as the award was not presented in 2020, and also to recognise the extra work which has been required for distance teaching during the restrictions. 

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Contact:

Vice-dean for Education Lise Wogensen Bach
Aarhus University, Health
Email: lwb@au.dk
Mobile: (+45) 2548 8522