University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2025 have been announced

The committee formed by the University of Tartu Student Union chose the recipients of the teaching staff of the year 2025 awards from among 100 nominees.

Vice President of the Student Body Anet Ilustrumm said that this year’s teaching staff of the year nominees were mostly praised for creating a varied, supportive and cheerful learning environment. “Students appreciate the comprehensive, understandable and learning supportive materials prepared by the teaching staff, the opportunity to be engaged in the classroom, as well as to watch and listen to study materials independently, practise on their own and assess themselves. They find it important to have the chance to apply knowledge and to relate it to practical examples and real life,” Ilustrumm said.

The university’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk emphasised that spreading the culture of excellent teaching relies on three things: an evidence-based approach to teaching, the ability to make effective teaching visible, and valuing it. “Often, exemplary teaching is seen only by the students of that one course. Although students’ genuine interest in a subject and direct feedback during the learning process are certainly the best recognition for a teaching staff member, it is important that the great work done in teaching becomes more widely visible. This creates the opportunity to learn from colleagues.”

Since last year, in addition to the teaching staff of the year, the university also selects teaching excellence ambassadors. These are individuals who, besides being highly skilled teachers, study the effects of different teaching methods, participate in teaching development and support their colleagues. According to Valk, both the recipients of the teaching staff of the year awards and teaching excellence ambassadors help spread the culture of excellence in teaching.

The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2025 award at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities goes to Teacher in Finnish Language and Culture Margit Kuusk (Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics).

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Margit Kuusk is a teacher who creates a cheerful and inspiring learning environment. She has an excellent grasp of how to teach Finnish to Estonians, using a textbook and workbook she has written herself, which offer Estonians the joy of recognition while also teaching them to notice important differences between the two languages. Language learning is linked with knowledge of Finnish history and culture, supported by videos made by Finns. In Moodle, she provides plenty of self-assessment exercises, shares links and summaries of what was done in class, ensuring everyone can get the most out of their studies. Margit does not consider colloquial Finnish any less important, even though it often differs from the standard written language: she explains both forms, while still emphasising the importance of accuracy in writing. Her classes are enlivened by her skilful use of language, engaging anecdotes, and her enthusiasm for Finnish music and cuisine.

Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities:

• Roomet Jakapi, Associate Professor of History of Philosophy
• Siobhan Ann Kattago, Associate Professor of Political Philosophy
• Maarja Ojamaa, Professor of Semiotics of Culture
• Monika Urb, Teacher of Estonian

The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2025 award at the Faculty of Social Sciences goes to Junior Lecturer in Teacher Education Pihel Hunt (Institute of Education).

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Pihel Hunt is a charismatic lecturer with a good sense of humour, whose confidence in her students’ abilities leaves no room for leaving even the most challenging tasks unfinished. Her thorough feedback encourages students to develop and learn until the expected level is achieved.

As an educational researcher, she applies the contemporary learning paradigm and upholds the ideals of the University of Tartu’s Good practice of teaching. Pihel’s teaching supports understanding both the subject matter and oneself as a learner: her materials are varied, she knows how to encourage participation, and she listens to students’ reflections. Her explanations are quick and student-friendly, inviting dialogue, and her feedback is constructive and forward-looking. She uses the possibilities offered by e-courses, including giving spoken feedback as audio files, which has an informal, warm effect. She has invited international guests to the class to engage in discussion.

Pihel Hunt is a lecturer who does not place fears or obstacles in a learner’s path but instead opens up opportunities that prompt them to see themselves and their professional journey in a new light. She treats each student as a person on a path, not as someone expected to tick off a checklist. Pihel is, in all likelihood, a role model and inspiration for all educational innovators.

Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Social Sciences:

• Jaanika Ailt, Junior Lecturer in Social Innovation
• Mait Kask, Junior Research Fellow in Information Science
• Merle Linno, Junior Lecturer in Social Welfare
• Dagmar Narusson, Lecturer of Community Work

The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2025 award at the Faculty of Medicine goes to Associate Professor in Human Physiology Jana Kivastik (Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine).

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Jana Kivastik is dedicated to teaching and does everything she can to ensure that students thoroughly master the complex topics of physiology. She is always very polite and kind to everyone yet maintains a systematic approach to teaching: her video lectures helped students grasp the course content, and the Moodle practice tests reinforced the knowledge gained. The seminars included so many practical activities and images that genuine understanding emerged. She also explained complex topics in everyday contexts.

In addition to her excellent teaching skills, Jana Kivastik is committed to developing the medical curriculum and takes part in the working group responsible for its revision.

Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Medicine:

• Andres Korrovits, Assistant in Orthopedic Stomatology
• Meeme Utt, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Monika Mets, Assistant in Paediatric Physiotherapy
• Maris Laan, Professor of Human Genetics

The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year 2025 award at the Faculty of Science and Technology goes to Junior Research Fellow in Computer Engineering Renno Raudmäe (Institute of Technology).

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Renno Raudmäe offers students a positive learning experience thanks to the well-structured design of his courses and the high-quality learning materials. His enthusiasm made the lectures engaging, and students gained a thorough overview of technical drawing and production processes.

He integrated theory and practical work closely, encouraging and supporting creativity. Students developed their spatial reasoning skills, as they had to understand how a detail would look from different angles, as well as their critical thinking, since they had to produce drawings that others could also understand.

His technical drawing courses receive the best feedback in the programme and require no special prior knowledge, making them accessible and enjoyable for the whole university community. For him as a young lecturer, the teaching staff of the year award is both confirmation that he is on the right track and encouragement to continue his good work.

Other shortlisted nominees at the Faculty of Science and Technology:

• Amnir Hadachi, Associate Professor of Smart City Technologies
• Valdis Laan, Professor of Algebra
• Evely Kirsiaed, Lecturer in Numerical Methods
• Hedvig Tamman, Associate Professor in Microbial Genetics

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 2025, 100 teaching staff members were nominated for the title.