Student Union has chosen recipients of the teaching staff of the year award
The committee formed by the University of Tartu Student Union chose the recipients of the teaching staff of the year awards for 2024. This time, 111 teaching staff members were nominated for the title.
Vice President of the Student Body Teele Kanarbik said that this year’s teaching staff of the year nominees were mostly praised for creating a varied, supportive and student-friendly learning environment. "Students appreciate lecturers who compile thorough and comprehensible materials that support learning, have an equal and humane attitude towards each student and integrate theoretical knowledge with practical examples," said Kanarbik.
The university’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk emphasised that teaching at the university is based on research: its content relies on the latest research findings and students are taught to do their own research, understand research results and also critically evaluate them.
"However, we increasingly talk about the need for teaching to be evidence-based – the structure and methods of teaching should be based on how students learn. The goal of teaching is to support learning, which requires understanding the student and their needs. It is a great joy that students notice and highlight the efforts of our teaching staff. Many thanks to everyone who follows these principles in their teaching and sets an example for others!"
The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2024 award at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities goes to Teacher of Estonian Language Piret Toomet (Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures).
Piret Toomet is doing a valuable job teaching the Estonian language and culture to international students. She is committed to making her lectures and seminars varied, informative and engaging – for students, they are the highlight of every day and the best place to learn. She is a great communicator and takes great care in paying attention to each learner. Piret Toomet is truly passionate as a teacher and does not give up before all students have understood the topic. She is remarkably skilled at creating a fun and energetic atmosphere that makes students feel more comfortable speaking Estonian.
Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities:
- Erki Lind, Lecturer in Religious Studies
- Raili Marling, Professor of English
- Anu Põldsam, Lecturer in Jewish Studies
- Tiiu Jaago, Associate Professor of Estonian and Comparative Folklore
The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2024 award at the Faculty of Social Sciences goes to Lecturer in Special Education Pille Häidkind (Institute of Education).
Pille Häidkind is a poised, candid and thorough lecturer who teaches her courses with passion. Her lectures and seminars are always full of energy, engaging and logically structured. When delivering the course, she considers students' expectations of the course structure and deadlines. She keeps to agreements and does not make unfair concessions while being accommodating and considerate. As a lecturer, she considers the research-based approach important, setting a great example for students. Pille Häidkind also led the compilation of the first university textbook on special education. This textbook is valuable material for students preparing for their bachelor's exam and supports all people working in the field of education.
As a programme director, Pille Häidkind considers student feedback important, so she regularly meets with students to collect feedback. In addition, each spring, she organises a popular event to share traineeship and learning experiences in cooperation with students.
Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Social Sciences:
- Andero Uusberg, Professor of Affective Psychology
- Tiina Tamm, Junior Lecturer in Hotel Management
- Kaupo Paal, lecturer in civil law
- Mario Rosentau, Lecturer in Comparative Jurisprudence
The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2024 award at the Faculty of Medicine goes to Lecturer in Radiology and Medical Biochemistry Maksim Zagura (Institute of Clinical Medicine).
Maksim Zagura creates a learning environment that is student-friendly and varied. Students preparing for his courses appreciate his supportive, clear and comprehensive materials, which include the most up-to-date and relevant information. He always enriches contact classes with plenty of visual materials, breaks, additional information on the topic, and humour. Students receive constant feedback on their learning through tests conducted in a relaxed atmosphere, and he also has prizes for the best. In Maksim Zagura’s classes, all students can actively participate and speak up. He also introduces useful additional materials to students. These textbooks or online environments often also come in handy in other courses. Thanks to his knowledge of the field and a wide range of interests, no question by any of his students goes unanswered. Maksim Zagura is always ready to help students prepare presentations for professional organisations and actively involves students in research. His teaching style reflects his sincere commitment to his field and passing on his knowledge.
Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Medicine:
- Ivo Laidmäe, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Associate Professor of Immunological Nanotechnology
- Daisy Volmer, Associate Professor of Social Pharmacy
- Maris Laan, Professor of Human Genetics
- Jaanika Karindi, Assistant in Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine
The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2024 award at the Faculty of Science and Technology goes to Associate Professor in Developmental Biology Tambet Tõnissoo (Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology).
Tambet Tõnissoo always prioritises student learning and promotes active collaboration among students, encouraging them to do group work and hold discussions that help them learn from each other and develop critical thinking skills. He is committed to improving his teaching and student development and constantly seeks new and better ways to present materials. He is always open to student feedback. Tõnissoo’s lectures are memorable, interactive, and engaging, and he relies on the latest and most important research in his teaching. He is known for his creativity, which is evident in his teaching methods: for example, he uses random everyday items, acting, and dancing to explain molecular processes. Tõnissoo makes sure that every student understands the material and finds new ways to learn the subject in an interesting manner without oversimplifying it. He provides practical examples that help students see how theoretical knowledge is applied in the real world. Tõnissoo has been chosen as the institute’s teaching staff of the year five times.
Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Science and Technology:
- Julia Polikarpus, Lecturer in Mathematics
- Alvin Lepik, Lecturer in Mathematics and Statistics
- Heili Kasuk, Lecturer of Physical Chemistry
- Toomas Esperk, Associate Professor in Zoology of Invertebrates
The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year award is given to recognise one teaching staff member in each faculty for excellent teaching skills in the previous year. The evaluation proceeds from the Good practice of teaching. The student council of each faculty chooses the five best teaching staff members of their faculty, from among whom the evaluation committee of the University of Tartu Student Union selects the recipients of the award. In 2024, 111 teaching staff members were nominated for the title.
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