This year, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences is once again awarding a prize to two female professors in recognition of their exceptional commitment to teaching and examples of good teaching practice.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 22 September 2015: This year, two female professors – Prof. Dr Franca Ruhwedel, Professor of Finance and Controlling at the Faculty of Communication and Environment, and Prof. Dr Eva Maria Hinterhuber, Professor of Sociology specialising in gender studies at the Faculty of Society and Economics – have jointly won the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences Teaching Award. The award ceremony took place on 21 September as part of the freshers’ welcome event at both of the university’s campuses.
In the ‘Foundational Lecture’ category, the prize was awarded to Prof. Ruhwedel. Prof. Hinterhuber received the Teaching Award in the ‘Projects/Seminar-based Exercises’ category.
The seven nominated professors presented their teaching concepts to the jury, all of whom are members of the central commission for the improvement of teaching quality. In their descriptions of their teaching concepts, they were asked to address the following criteria:
“I try to be an active, passionate and committed lecturer in order to motivate my students – by addressing them personally, remembering their names and building a relationship,” says Prof. Ruhwedel. The latter, in particular, is important for connecting with students and laying the foundations for the essential transfer of knowledge. Her understanding of her role draws on the research findings of the Australian educational researcher John Hattie, who, through a large-scale meta-analysis, identified characteristics associated with learning success. According to this research, factors that are particularly helpful for learning success include feedback from the teacher, the quality of the course and the promotion of learning strategies.
In order to help students achieve their increasingly complex learning objectives, the second-place winner, Prof. Hinterhuber, also bases her teaching approach on a tried-and-tested taxonomy (Bloom’s Taxonomy). In the ‘Projects/Seminar-based Exercises’ module, she aims to encourage and motivate students, spark their curiosity and equip them with the ‘tools of the trade’ so essential for their future careers. Whilst she enjoys presenting competing theories in her lectures, students are expected to examine and determine the practical and political relevance of these theories to specific issues in practical sessions and seminars. The results can then be presented, for example, in the form of a poster, as is customary at academic conferences, thereby meeting the standards of good academic practice.
“Once again this year, we are able to recognise outstanding teaching concepts. The active participation of students in the selection process reaffirms the importance of the teaching award at our university,” notes Prof. Dr Marion Halfmann, Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Continuing Education, with delight.
The teaching award ceremony took place on 21 September as part of the freshers’ welcome events at the Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort campuses. Here, the new students learnt first-hand that good teaching is not only valued but also recognised and honoured.
