2006 UT BEST TEACHER AWARD RECIPIENTS SELECTED

For the academic year 2005/2006, the best teachers are Ms Piret Kärtner, Assistant at the Chair of English of the Faculty of Philosophy (for the humanities), Ms Kristel Ruutmets, Lecturer in the Didactics of English Language Teaching at the Faculty of Education (for the social sciences), Mr Urmas Kokassaar, lecturer in the Didactics of Biology Teaching (for the natural and exact sciences) and Mr Ain Raal, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Medicine (for the medical sciences).

”We decided to offer our professors best teacher of the year awards in order to add value to the principal activity of the University. The aim of the awards is to emphasise the importance of quality teaching and give recognition to professors who receive high marks from students. We intend to shape giving recognition to our best teachers into a fine tradition, since there are many excellent professors at the University of Tartu,” explained Ms Birute Klaas, UT Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.

Best teachers of the year were selected at the end of the previous academic year after the end of classes on the basis of the results of teaching and course evaluation survey conducted among students registered for each course taught. The student respondents had to evaluate the clarity of teaching, the ability of the teacher to present course material in an engaging manner, the quality of study aids and the structure of course material.

The awards were presented to recipients at the Ceremonial Meeting opening the new academic year. The best teachers also received a small special-design silver badge hand-made by jewellery artist Katrin Veegen together with a financial bonus amounting to a monthly salary of a UT Professor (18,250 Estonian kroon). The recipients of the award will be asked to give a public lecture during the new academic year.

For each of the four research areas, UT also wishes to honour the best 10 teachers, whose names can be found on the following website (accessible in Estonian only):
/tudeng/kvaliteet/aasta_oppejou_auhind/2006.

Liina Jürgen
Senior Specialist for Public Relations,
UT Public Relations and Information Unit