Vote for your favourite teacher

In the week starting on 20 March, students will once again be able to elect their favourite teacher. While some two hundred teachers were long-listed in previous elections, they can now vote for all teachers employed by WUR.

The pre-selection based on the Programme and Course evaluation (PaCE) has been removed this year, says Irene Faas, coordinator of the Teacher of the Year election and Excellent Education Prizes. ‘Previously, many teachers who teach smaller courses were often excluded, while they may provide great and inspiring education. Removing the PaCE pre-selection means that they too can win the award.’ There is still the issue that teachers who facilitate larger groups have more students who may vote for them, but it is not impossible, Faas expects. ‘If you have a group of very motivated students, it is possible.’

All eligible students will be sent an email at the start of the election week, inviting them to cast their ballot. ‘This includes regular bachelor and master’s students who enrolled at WUR no later than September 2021. Students who started their studies this academic year are exempted from the election, as are exchange students and those doing pre-masters.’

The long list with the ten teachers who have received the most votes will be made public one week after the election closes, Faas expects. ‘We must check and filter the results. The Teacher of the Year Award may not be won by the same teacher in two consecutive years. And if the number of votes for numbers ten and eleven is very close, we may choose to list eleven teachers rather than ten.’

Members of the jury wanted

Faas is currently looking for students to join the jury. ‘The jury interviews the teachers who make it to the long list and then selects a top five, also known as the shortlist. The jury selects the winner.’ The shortlist is expected to be available at the start of June, and the winner will be announced on 20 June during an event where the Excellent Education Prizes will also be distributed.

Last October, Birgit Boogaard was elected teacher of the year. The election was delayed that year because the University Fund transferred the organisation of the election to Education & Student Affairs. In response to her election, Resource recently visited the concluding lecture of Boogaard’s African Philosophy course

Are you a WUR student and interested in joining the jury? Send an email to  toty.eep@wur.nl.

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