Student Activating Teaching

Dr Jeroen Lemmens has been awarded the UvA Education Award in the category Activating Teaching. Students praise his infectious passion for Entertainment Communication and his interactive lectures that combine various teaching methods such as quizzes, film screenings, and diverse preparatory materials. According to students, this creates a learning environment that is both enjoyable and engaging.

The jury was particularly impressed by ‘The Call’, a series of interactive ten-minute videos in which students engage in simulated phone calls with their lecturer. Each video adapts to students’ responses, allowing them to test their understanding and see the consequences of their choices. Designed to increase engagement in a course with over 600 students, ‘The Call’ has proven highly effective: students rate the activating elements of the course higher, 86% feel better prepared for the exam, and they perform better on Call-related questions at the exam.

The jury commends Jeroen’s thoughtful and data-driven approach, noting how he translated a clear problem analysis into a creative, evidence-based solution. His blend of enthusiasm, innovation, and systematic reflection exemplifies the essence of activating teaching. The jury regards him as an inspiring example and a deserving ambassador for Activating Teaching.

Inclusive Teaching

Sebastian van de Voort has been awarded the UvA Education Award in the category Inclusive Teaching. Students praise his passion for the subject, his clear explanation, his willingness to help, and his characteristic math jokes that foster an open and welcoming atmosphere. Sebastian teaches mathematics and programming, subjects often perceived by students as challenging and sometimes intimidating, yet he manages to create a learning environment in which everyone feels included and supported.

The jury was impressed by Sebastian’s vision on teaching and learning, which is partly inspired by his own experiences with neurodiversity. This vision is built on three pillars: a belief in every student’s potential, the creation of clear and accessible logistical structures through centralized information and user-friendly ICT tools, and the principle of unconscious to conscious learning, in which students learn to recognize and apply the knowledge they already possess.

An illustrative example of his innovative approach is a module on pseudo-random number generation, in which students each receive a personal bingo card while the slides display “bingo numbers”. Instead of calling out when they complete a card, they are challenged to work out how the numbers were generated, a playful way to make abstract algorithms tangible. Afterwards, Sebastian encourages reflection through targeted questions that help students gain insight into their own learning process.

With his trust in students, thoughtful course design and creative teaching methods, Sebastian makes his education accessible to a diverse group of learners. The jury regards him as an inspiring example and a deserving Ambassador for Inclusive Teaching.

Collaborative Teaching

The course Education and Inclusive Development from the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has been awarded the UvA Education Award in the category Collaborative Teaching. Collaboration is at the heart of this course, not only among lecturers, but especially with students. Students are genuine partners who actively contribute to shaping their own learning process.

Even before the course began, students were invited to work together with lecturers and peers from diverse international backgrounds to co-create the course structure. Some of these students later continued as teaching assistants, extending the collaboration throughout the duration of the course. During the sessions, students were encouraged to take an active role in co-creating the learning experience, resulting in a student-led environment where they developed a strong sense of ownership and connection.

According to the jury, this course embodies what education truly is: a collaborative endeavour. The partnership between students and lecturers within Education and Inclusive Development fosters a learning environment built on trust, equality and engagement. It comes as no surprise that students expressed the wish that the course would never end. The jury therefore regards this course as an inspiring example of Collaborative Teaching.

Innovative Teaching

The masterteam Geneeskunde from the Faculty of Medicine has been awarded the UvA Education Award in the category Innovative Teaching for the project team Kruk, Koffie, Kop Houden. This project dares to bring theatre into medical education, transforming learning from the transfer of knowledge into a process of personal growth, empathy, creativity, and compassion.

What began as a student initiative developed into a full theatre production at the DeLaMar Theatre, where students used humour and vulnerability to reflect on their experiences and growth as future doctors, both personally and professionally. The performance demonstrates that art, cabaret, and medicine can go hand in hand, helping students to process complex learning experiences and build authenticity within a demanding field.

The impact was significant: the performance sold out within 24 hours, inspired hundreds of students and staff, and led to new teaching materials and research. The jury emphasises that true innovation, as this project shows, is not always about technology or tools, but about human connection. For that reason, the jury regards Kruk, Koffie, Kop Houden as an inspiring example of innovative teaching.