State acknowledged University of Tartu professor with Lecturer of the Year title

For the first time the Ministry of Education and Research presented the title Lecturer of the Year at the “Eestimaa õpib ja tänab (Estonia studies and expresses gratitude)” award gala and it was awarded to University of Tartu’s Professor of Analytical Chemistry Ivo Leito.

Former and current students of Professor Leito describe him as a phenomenal lecturer whose success can be accounted to complete dedication and a systematic scientific approach. Students appreciate his skill and passion for explaining complicated things in a simple manner. His lectures are always interactive and it is impossible not to contribute.

Another proof of Professor Leito’s excellent teaching skills is the fact that he has been elected Lecturer of the Year twice in realia et naturalia at the University of Tartu. In 2015 chemistry students also voted him the chemistry lecturer of the year.

The winner stands out with his innovative teaching methods of which the most extraordinary and extensive is the assessment of measurement uncertainties in Chemical Analysis. This year, 480 students from 70 countries participated in the course. The course was also named the Online Course of the Year.

The international master’s programme of Analytical Chemistry which was initiated by Ivo Leito is a great success and it is the first and so far only Estonian curriculum which has managed to receive the reputable Erasmus Mundus status and the corresponding funding from the European Commission.

Equally to teaching, Ivo Leito contributes to research. His research group is in the absolute top in the world in the field of superacids and superbase chemistry and chemical metrology.

Upon receiving the award, Leito thanked the collective of the Chair of Analytical Chemistry, his family and above all his amazing students who he has had the chance to teach.

Leito has received the President of the Republic’s Cultural Foundation Young Scientist Award and the Estonian State Award of Science. In research work Leito also considers raising the next generation essential: successful teaching in doctoral studies is demonstrated by the big number of doctoral students who have defended their theses under his supervision or co-supervision: fourteen.

“Estonia studies and expresses gratitude” award gala was organised by the Ministry of Education and Research, Estonian Education Personnel Union and Foundation Innove.