Three years ago, the Kent Union Teaching Awards were established as a way for students to pro-actively recognise and reward the work of staff across the University of Kent.
For the nine categories, which range from the three Faculty awards, Postgraduates who Teach award and the Professional Services award for non-academic staff, nominations are received from across the campus through physical postcards and digital submissions.
While the crowning achievement comes to the staff who walk away with their certificate and the pride of being named by students as the best of the best at the ceremony; one of the main aims of the initiative is to reward as many staff as possible. Every individual who is nominated by a student receives a teaching awards mug and is included upon the posters at the end of the year, thereby recognising the impact that so many make rather than just the few.
SSPSSR staff have been thrilled by the response with record numbers of staff being nominated – and some even receiving multiple nominations! Professor of Criminology and Deputy Head of School, Alex Stevens said:
‘At SSPSSR, we believe that excellent researchers often make excellent teachers. We are very proud that the effort, skill and commitment to teaching that are staff display has been recognised by the award nominations we have received from our students.’