Notable names in the line-up of finalists are Vahdatikhaki (Civil Engineering) and Seyran Topan (Industrial Engineering & Management). Vahdatikhaki became Teacher of the Year in 2018, Ipek Seyran Topan was his successor in 2019. The other finalists are mathematics professor Nelly Litvak and cybersecurity lecturer Wallace Corbo Ugulino, both from the EEMCS faculty.
Normally, the final battle for the Central Education Prize has three finalists. However, the responsible committee from the Organisation of Study Associations could not choose.
The committee was concerned with the selection process for the past few months. It was up to each study association to nominate the winners of the decentral education awards for the finale of the Central Education Prize. Subsequently, it was up to the nominated teachers themselves to send in a motivation letter.
No audience votes
The committee took a different approach this year from previous years, says committee member and master's student Educational Science & Technology Preeti Mishra. 'We involved students earlier in the selection process, rather than only in the finale. Together with someone from CELT and people from the BMS faculty, they formed a jury that evaluated the lecturers, for instance on their vision of education, interaction with students, translation of theory into practice and incorporating feedback.'
Another major change is the format of the finale. This still takes place in the form of so-called microlectures by the finalists. 'But unlike in previous years, now only the jury decides who the winner is,' says Mishra. 'Before, the audience also had a say, but now they are there for support. In the past, it used to happen that a large number of the attendees came from one particular study programme or faculty. That left too big a mark on the outcome.'
The finale takes place on Thursday afternoon 9 June, from 2 to 5.30 pm, in Waaier 3. The winner of the Central Education Prize will receive a cash prize of 2,500 euros and a certificate.
