Dr Iain MacKenzie, Dr Stefan Rossbach and Dr Adrian Pabst, all lecturers in the School of Politics and International Relations, were honoured by the Political Studies Association at its Annual Awards Dinner.
The Kent academics picked up the “Innovation in Teaching Politics” award for an exemplary case of teaching innovation that greatly enriches the student learning experience.
The Political Studies Association (PSA), the UK’s leading body for the study and development of politics, has honoured three lecturers from the University of Kent for their teaching at its Annual Awards Dinner which took place on Tuesday, 1st of December at Church House in Westminster.
The award, which recognises the most innovative teaching methods in politics, was given to Dr Iain McKenzie, Dr Stefan Rossback and Dr Adrian Pabst. The lecturers use a diverse range of teaching methods – from large lectures to small group discussions, simulation exercises, and class debates. Working together, MacKenzie, Rossbach and Pabst have developed a module entitled ‘Resistance in Practice’ which innovatively blends traditional seminar discussion, interactive workshops and work with partner organisations such as Tate Modern. They have developed a highly original assessment method – ‘documented practice of resistance’ – which gives students the opportunity to do an actual practice of resistance as opposed to a standard essay.
In the National Student Survey 2015, 92% of Kent’s Politics students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
The PSA’s judging panel who selected the award winners agreed that the ‘Resistance in Practice’ module was “an exemplary case of teaching innovation that greatly enriches the student learning experience.”
The team from the University of Kent received their award from Peter Kellner, President of the political polling company YouGov.
The Resistance in Practice module is a core module on the MA in Political Theory and Practices of Resistance programme, and can be studied as an optional module on other postgraduate programmes offered by the School of Politics and International Relations.