Directors Teaching Prize 2009
10 September 2009
The Director’s Teaching Prize recognizes excellence in teaching and the promotion of learning within the School. Its purpose is to stimulate teaching and teaching-related scholarly and/or creative activities, particularly at undergraduate level. The prize is open to any member of SOAS staff involved in supporting the student learning experience and both individuals and teaching teams may be nominated. This year’s panel (comprising representative from the SU, the Vice Principal Learning and Teaching, the Associate Deans Learning and Teaching, the Head of Learning and Teaching Strategy and the external Representative, Professor Mary Stainsy Assistant Director, Learning and Teaching, IoE) were very impressed by the large number of applications (39 in total) and the outstanding commitment demonstrated to student learning of those shortlisted.
This year’s prize is awarded to the teaching team of Dr. Lucy Duran and Mr. Carlos Chirinos from the Music Department for their course Presenting World Music on Radio. The nomination highlighted the course’s integration of academic and professional experience, making the course relevant to the ‘real world’. Their hands on approach was welcomed by students for presenting ‘a welcome alternative in the often unremittingly abstract world of academia’.
The runner’s up prizes go to: Dr. Gina Heathcote of the Law Department for her postgraduate course International Laws on the Use of Force. The area of the course singled out for praise by students was her practical exercise where students participated in a Model UN Security Council session; Professor Colin Shindler of Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East. The strengths of this nomination lay in his innovative teaching which links original research with an emphasis on critical thinking; and Dr. Saurabh Gupta of Development Studies, whose approach is considered by students to be ‘truly inspiring’.
The prize was awarded at the graduation ceremony.
