Meet the winners of the Best Practice in Teaching & Learning Award 2024!

Exciting news from the Education Festival ! The Best Practice in Teaching & Learning Award 2024 winners have been announced and personally awarded by the Rector Magnificus Prof. Jacquelien Scherpen.

The winners of the Best Practice Awards for real-world problem-solving

Taking the top spot are Dr Kirsten van den Bosch, Dr Marieke Dekker, Bas Blom, MSc, and Linda Greveling, MSc, from the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Their initiative, "Putting Theory into Practice: Connecting Students with Organizations to Solve Real-World Problems within Academic Learning Communities," impressed the BPA jury with its integration of theory and practice. This initiative pairs students with organizations to address real-world challenges. Through collaborative research projects, students apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems, fostering hands-on learning experiences and societal impact. The teaching team from BSS won €5000 to invest in educational innovations within their practice.

The runners-up: educating future geographers

The jury selected two runners-up from the eleven practices submitted by the faculties: Campus Fryslân and the Faculty of Spatial Sciences. Dr. Meghan L. Muldoon at Campus Fryslân introduces Virtual Township Tourism, where students embark on a guided virtual exploration of a South African township. This immersive experience sparks discussions on poverty, tourism ethics, and VR's role in education while generating income for community projects.

Dr. Peter Groote and Dr. Leonieke Bolderman, a Faculty of Spatial Sciences teaching team, introduce the innovative "Geographies of the United States" course. This experiential journey empowers students to actively shape their comprehension of U.S. socio-spatial dynamics. Through interactive presentations and collaborative research projects, students gain a nuanced understanding of the U.S. landscape. The course's assessment structure emphasizes continuous learning, collaboration, and diverse output formats, ensuring a comprehensive and transferable educational experience. Both runner-up teams were awarded €2500 each to invest in educational innovations within their respective practices.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their outstanding contributions to teaching and learning excellence!