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UvA Education Awards

For good education

Good and inspiring education is of great importance to the UvA. That is why we present UvA Education Awards to exceptional lecturers and a courses, education projects or -teams that contribute to good and inspiring education.

Four themes

There are four UvA Education Awards, which are thematically inspired by the UvA Institution Plan and the UvA Vision on Teaching & Learning.

Student Activating Teaching

Award for a lecturer | The UvA considers it important to offer activating education with a high level of student engagement (Strategic Plan, p.5). Therefore, all faculties focus on activating teaching methods (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.6), and the UvA aims to continue providing space for rich, small-scale learning environments to offer students high-quality education (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.6).

This lecturer is amazing and engages me like no other during lectures. The contrast they create makes it hard for me to enjoy other lectures as much. Thanks to them, I know why I chose this study. Submitted nomination

This lecturer could tell stories in a very engaging way. Normally, after 15 minutes of listening, I get distracted by something else. But with them, I could genuinely stay focused for 1.5 hours straight. They also shared very interesting or funny anecdotes/examples that fit the material well. Submitted nomination
Inclusive Teaching

Award for a lecturer | Based on the Strategic Agenda for Higher Education and Research of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, the UvA focuses on ensuring that education aligns well with the diversity in backgrounds and talents of its students (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.6). Broad accessibility and equal opportunities in education are crucial in this regard (Strategic Plan, p.5). Active efforts are required to promote diversity, inclusivity, and equality to attract, retain, and educate talents (Strategic Plan, p.4).

This lecturer teaches in a fun and educational way. They keep students motivated and ensure that everyone can follow along. Additionally, you can tell that they are genuinely interested in your personal learning process. They make you feel seen, heard, and understood. Submitted nomination

This lecturer creates an open and respectful classroom environment where everyone feels comfortable. They build personal relationships with students and offer support, especially for first-year students adjusting to life in Amsterdam. They do everything they can to ensure the well-being of their students. Submitted nomination
Collaborative Teaching

Award for course, education project or -team | The UvA aims for educational formats where students learn collaboratively with stakeholders in society to create knowledge, analyze issues, and solve problems (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.12). This involves seeking collaboration with various societal organizations, businesses, and knowledge institutions (Strategic Plan, p.5). Additionally, promoting collaboration among disciplines within the UvA is encouraged. This contributes to innovation within individual fields and helps better address future challenges (Strategic Plan, p.5).

Students take ownership of their learning process and share responsibility in group projects. The structured schedule – with 5:00 PM deadlines, recovery weeks, and breaks – provides room for reflection and time to relax. Submitted nomination

Students have the opportunity to collaborate with external partners and work in groups. The program is fully designed for this, and this course is a great example of that. Submitted nomination
Innovating Teaching

Award for course, education project or -team | The UvA considers it essential to continue experimenting and innovating in education to provide students with powerful and rich learning environments (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.7). This can be achieved, for example, through blended learning, by adapting to recent developments (such as the use of AI), or by utilizing non-traditional educational spaces.

This lecturer gives interactive lessons and motivates students to actively participate. They experiment with innovative assessment methods, such as a negotiation simulation, and organized an educational study trip to Brussels. Submitted nomination

FAQ

How is it organised?
Four prizes

There are four prizes, based on themes from the UvA Institutional Plan and the UvA Educational Vision:

Activating Teaching (for individual lecturer)

Inclusive Teaching (for individual lecturer)

Collaborative Teaching (for subject, educational project or team)

Innovative Teaching (for subject, educational project or team)

Pre-selection

After the nomination period, a pre-selection of nominees will take place based on the highest number of nominations. The pre-selection will be approached with the question whether they would like to be a candidate for the UvA Education Awards as an individual lecturer or as a team. The participating candidates are then assessed by a jury.

Jury

There are two juries, a jury for the individual lecturer awards and a jury for the team awards. The juries consist of engaged UvA staff members with expertise related to the categories, as well as students from the Central Student Council and the Student Assessor (see jury composition). To whom the Education Awards will be presented to will be determined on the basis of:

Commentary of nominations (all nomination have commentary required);

Letter from participating candidates** including reaction to the commentary of nominations, explanatory notes about their education(project) and the choices made (enhancing their vision on teaching & learning), and the submission of their good practice.

** More detailed criteria can be found in the FAQ.

Award ceremony

The UvA Education Awards will be presented during the UvA Education Day 2025 on 28 October 2025.
What is the planning?
When can you nominate?
What are the themes based on?

The four themes of the UvA Education Awards 2025 align with the UvA's Strategic Plan and the UvA's Vision on Teaching and Learning:

Student Activating Teaching
The UvA considers it important to offer activating education with a high level of student engagement (Strategic Plan, p.5). Therefore, all faculties focus on activating teaching methods (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.6), and the UvA aims to continue providing space for rich, small-scale learning environments to offer students high-quality education (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.6).

Inclusive Teaching
Based on the Strategic Agenda for Higher Education and Research of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, the UvA focuses on ensuring that education aligns well with the diversity in backgrounds and talents of its students (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.6). Broad accessibility and equal opportunities in education are crucial in this regard (Strategic Plan, p.5). Active efforts are required to promote diversity, inclusivity, and equality to attract, retain, and educate talents (Strategic Plan, p.4).

Collaborative Education
The UvA aims for educational formats where students learn collaboratively with stakeholders in society to create knowledge, analyze issues, and solve problems (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.12). This involves seeking collaboration with various societal organizations, businesses, and knowledge institutions (Strategic Plan, p.5). Additionally, promoting collaboration among disciplines within the UvA is encouraged. This contributes to innovation within individual fields and helps better address future challenges (Strategic Plan, p.5).

Innovating Education
The UvA considers it essential to continue experimenting and innovating in education to provide students with powerful and rich learning environments (Vision on Teaching and Learning, p.7). This can be achieved, for example, through blended learning, by adapting to recent developments (such as the use of AI), or by utilizing non-traditional educational spaces.
Who get to nominate?
What are the criteria for participating candidates?
The jurys request the candidates to provide a written response to the nomination which includes an explanation of their teaching initiatives and a justification of the choices made therein (vision on teaching and learning). Additionally, the jury uses the following questions as criteria:

General criteria

Does the candidate provide a clear insight into the choices made?

Does the candidate demonstrate a compelling vision of education regarding the category?

Does the example used show that the lecturer excels in that category?

Criteria for the theme Student Activating Teaching

To what extent does the candidate effectively use activating teaching methods?

How actively does the candidate involve students in the education process?

Criteria for the theme Inclusive Teaching

How accessible is the candidate's education for students with different backgrounds and talents?

To what extent does the candidate promote equal opportunities in their own education?

Criteria for the theme Collaborative Teaching

To what extent does collaboration occur beyond the candidate's own subject (with other disciplines or societal parties)?

How much does this collaboration contribute mutually to the accumulation of knowledge and/or solving complex issues?

Criteria for the theme Innovative Teaching

How innovative is the education provided?

How much does this innovation contribute to a powerful learning environment?
Who were the previous winners?
Recipients of the UvA Teaching Awards 2024:

Student Activating Teaching: Dr. F. (Farid) Boussaid (finalist 'Lecturer of the Year 2025')

Inclusive Teaching: Dr. G. (Giorgia) Romagnoli

Collaborative Teaching: Computational Social Science (teaching team)

Innovative Teaching: Science, Technology & Innovation: Biomimicry (minor)

Previous years, the UvA Lecturer of the Year were: Jan Aten (2022), David Bos (2021), René Smits (2020), Elio Baldi (2019), Frank Nack (2018), Antoinette Muntjewerff (2016-2017), Bas de Bruin (2015), Joris Marée (2014), Mieke Mulder (2013), Jan van Maarseveen (2012), Gerben Moerman (2011), Sander Bais (2010), Peter Starreveld (2009), Mathieu de Bakker (2008) and Maria Bonaria Urban (2007).

Until 2022, the UvA Lecturer of the Year award was organised. The format of this award was then discussed. This led to an evaluation (conducted by TLC-Central) resulting in a new format: UvA Education Awards 2024.
Who is organising the UvA Education Awards 2025?
Who are the jury members?

Jury 2025 - Individual Prizes

Brit Griesbertz
Brit Griesbertz is a trainer at the Teaching and Learning Centre of the Science Faculty (FNWI). She conducts training on inclusive education, including in the UTQ at the Science Faculty and the UTQ+ trajectory “Step into your Student’s Shoes”, and she also offers “Hot Moments” workshops. Brit is also part of the SIG International Classroom and the Diversity Sounding Board at FNWI. She believes that inclusive learning is an ongoing process and emphasizes the importance of feedback loops. As a jury member, Brit focuses on how inclusivity and diversity goals are assessed and reflected in the learning experience.

Erjo Beitler (Chair)
Erjo Beitler is a didactic advisor and trainer at the Central Teaching and Learning Centre. He facilitates parts of the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) trajectory for lecturer across different faculties, focusing on active and inclusive education. Erjo is involved in various programs such as “Deep Democracy in the classroom” and the TLC card set with activating teaching methods. As the chair of the jury, he supports the expert duos in their decisions for the educational awards.

Jacobijn Olthoff

- Bio to follow -

Rien de Vos

- Bio to follow -

Willem Volker (CSR)

- Bio to follow -

Jury 2025 - Team Prizes

Rosanne van Wieringen (IIS)
Rosanne van Wieringen has designed and taught various transdisciplinary educational initiatives such as Placemaking and Change Making at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences program over the past five years. These initiatives focus on social connection, teaching students to collaborate within teams and with external stakeholders. As a jury member, Rosanne pays attention to the support and reflection mechanisms in place to facilitate collaboration.

Imber van Dijk (Chair)
Imber van Dijk is an educational advisor for Blended Learning and trainer at the Teaching & Learning Centre at the Faculty of Law. He implements active learning as a key part of the faculty’s educational innovation and co-authored the TLC card set with activating teaching methods. As a jury member, Imber evaluates how active learning strategies are effectively integrated into teaching practices.

Charlotte Meijer

- Bio to follow -

Ingmar Visser

- Bio to follow -

Angelina Senchi (Student Assessor)
Angelina Senchi is the student assessor at the University of Amsterdam. She has been involved in the faculty student council of the Faculty of Humanities, first as the administrative secretary and later as the chairperson. She is a Master's student in Arts & Culture Studies.
What does Education Ambassadorship entail?

UvA Education Award recipients are asked to share their teaching expertise, way of working and/or interpretation of the teaching role as an example within and outside the UvA. Therefore, the recipient is referred to as a 'Education Ambassador'. The UvA Teaching & Learning Centers (TLC) support the education ambassadors in sharing their expertise by providing platform for knowledge sharing.

Education Awards 2024

Lecturers Farid Boussaid, Giorgia Romagnoli, the Computational Social Science teaching team and the team from minor Biomimicry each received a UvA Education Award at the Education Day 2024.

Download Jury Report (PDF) Read about the award ceremony