Since 2009/10, the Students' Association has organised the Teaching Awards to recognise the excellent teaching that happens in St Andrews. The awards aim to identify best practice throughout the University and give students the opportunity to thank the individuals who helped to shape their learning experience.
Please note that only students are eligible to make nominations in these awards. Winners and shortlisted staff will also be selected by student-led panels.
Any questions about Teaching Awards can be sent to [email protected].
Teaching Awards Report 2022-23
What do students consider "excellent teaching" to look like? Evgeniya Pakhomova, Teaching Awards Research Analyst, explores the nominations made in the 2021-22 Teaching Awards to disect exactly that question.
This in-depth report covers a full depiction of what students at St Andrews think excellent teaching looks like in practice and provides tangible recommendations to improve the learning experience.
Read the Teaching Awards 2021-22 Report (or our shortened version).
Categories (2023)
Award descriptions can be found below. Please see the award criteria (posted above) for further details.
Outstanding Commitment to Academic Inclusivity
This award recognizes a member of teaching staff who has made significant efforts to widen participation and access to learning. This support may take the form of classroom structure (e.g. evening degree), module content (e.g. justice and equality), or exceptional consideration or care for traditionally underrepresented students.
Outstanding Innovation in Teaching
This award celebrates creativity in the classroom, whether in terms of module structure, teaching style, or content delivered.
Outstanding Dissertation, Thesis, or Project Supervisor (two awards, one for a PG supervisor and one for a UG supervisor)
This award recognizes excellent guidance and support offered by a staff member during a student learning or research project, including postgraduate research, postgraduate taught, and undergraduate dissertations/theses.
Outstanding Academic Mentorship
This award acknowledges the way a member of teaching staff influences students' overall development (both personally and academically). This award may be presented to an individual mentor (for example, one’s advisor) or a staff member who displays exceptional mentoring capacities for all/multiple students (for example, a staff mentor to PGRs).
Outstanding Teacher (two awards, one for Arts & Divinity and one for Science & Medicine)
These awards recognize a member of teaching staff whose exemplary contributions to instructional excellence have significantly impacted the student learning experience.
Outstanding Professional Service Staff Member
This award recognizes the efforts of a member of staff whose primary responsibilities do not include teaching (such as technical or laboratory support staff, an advisor, or administrative assistant, among other roles). The staff member has made a significant impact on a students’ academic or personal journey.
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant or Demonstrator (two awards, one for Arts & Divinity and one for Science & Medicine)
This award recognizes a current postgraduate research student who has gone above and beyond the expected teaching responsibilities such as tutoring to positively impact the student learning experience.
Outstanding Commitment to Student Partnership
This award recognizes a staff member who has gone to significant lengths to engage students as partners in learning, either inside or outside the classroom.
Nominations Timeline (2023)
- Nominations Opened: 13 February, 2023
- Nominations Closed: 20 March, 2023 (Now Closed)
- Award Ceremony (limited attendance): 13 April 2023
Guidance Materials for Writing a Nomination (2023)
The following resources have been developed to aid students in writing their nominations:
- The full Award Criteria, which provide further details about the qualities and attributes for each award.
- The Evaluation Rubric , which will be used by the Shortlisting Committee in it's decision-making process.
- Several Example Nominations from previous years, all of which were highly evaluated.
Please note, students are encouraged but not required to refer to the Award Criteria and Evaluation Rubric when writing a nomination. Any staff member is eligible to win or be nominated for a Teaching Award.
Past results
Winners are in bold.
2023
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Outstanding Teacher (Arts/Divinity) |
- Akali Omeni, International Relations
- Anindya Raychaudhuri, English
- Ana Del Campo, History
|
| Outstanding Teacher (Science/Medicine) |
- Jonathan Fraser, Mathematics & Statistics
- Nikolaos Sfakianakis, Mathematics & Statistics
- John Lucocq, Medicine
|
| Outstanding Commitment to Academic Inclusivity |
- Ale Boussalem, Geography & Sustainable Development
- William McCarthy, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Paula Villegas Verdu, International Education Institute
|
| Outstanding Academic Mentorship |
- Ozge Senay, Economics & Finance
- Will Cresswell, Biology
- Faye Donnelly, International Relations
- Giorgos Minas, Mathematics & Statistics
|
| Outstanding Dissertation, Thesis, or Project Supervisor (Postgraduate) |
- Claire Whitehead, Modern Languages
- Akali Omeni, International Relations
- Madhavi Nevader, Divinity
|
| Outstanding Dissertation, Thesis, or Project Supervisor (Undergraduate) |
- Manon Schweinfurth, Psychology & Neuroscience
- Finn Smith, Mathematics & Statistics
- Kate Cowcher, Art History
- Frank Sullivan, Medicine
|
| Outstanding Innovation in Teaching |
- Kulnicha Meechaiyo, Economics & Finance
- Bettina Bildhauer, Modern Languages
- Karen Lane, Philosophical, Anthropological, and Film Studies
|
| Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant (Arts/Divinity) |
- Q Manivannan, International Relations
- Meghan Dulsky, Classics
|
| Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant or Demonstrator (Science/Medicine) |
- Alice Elizabeth Martin, Chemistry
- Alice Lynch, Computer Science
|
| Outstanding Professional Service Staff Member |
- William Hiles, Earth & Environmental Sciences (Lab Technician)
- Graham Smith, RBS
|
| Outstanding Commitment to Student Engagement |
- Yusen Yu, Art History
- Vassilios Papais, International Relations
|
2022
Watch the ceremony
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Outstanding teacher (Arts and Divinity) |
- Margaret Connolly, English and History
- Akali Omeni, International Relations
- Kristen Harkness, International Relations
- Jacob Browne, Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
- Travis Manuel, Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
|
| Outstanding teacher (Science and Medicine) |
-
- Antonia Wilmot-Smith, Mathematics & Statistics
- Antje Kohnle, Physics & Astronomy
- Tom Spink, Computer Science
- Pavlos Manousiadis, Physics & Astronomy
|
| Outstanding Commitment to Academic Inclusivity |
-
- Eoin O’Donoghue, Classics
- Akali Omeni, International Relations
|
| Outstanding Innovation in Teaching |
- Adam Etinson, Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
- Sam Haddow, English
- Christopher Jefferson, Computer Science
- Will Cresswell, Biology
- Roxani Krystalli, International Relations
|
| Outstanding Dissertation, Thesis, or Project Supervisor |
- Tristan Henderson, Computer Science
- Ana Sol Gonzalel Rueda, Art History
- Tanya Elal Lawrence, History
- Gabriella Slomp, International Relations
- Konrad Lawson, History
|
| Outstanding Academic Mentorship |
- Tom Smith, Modern Languages
- Jasmine Gani, International Relations
- Lesley Thirkell, International Education Institute
- Nikolaos Sfakianakis, Mathematics & Statistics
- Akali Omeni, International Relations
|
| Outstanding Commitment by a Member of Professional Services Staff |
- Elizabeth O’Keeffe, Postgraduate Administration
- Mary Carr, Wardennial Team
|
| Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant (Arts and Divinity) |
- Gabriela Manley, Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
- Jacob Baxter, History
|
| Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant (Science and Medicine) |
- Gyasiwa Arhin, Psychology & Neuroscience
- Heidi Davis, Psychology & Neuroscience
|
2021
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Outstanding teacher (Arts and Divinity) |
- Svetlana Booth
- Walter Pedriali
- Roxani Krystalli
|
| Outstanding teacher (Science and Medicine) |
- Neil Keddie
- Brian Chalmers
- Akira O’Connor
|
| Outstanding teacher (evening degree) |
|
| Innovative teaching |
- Lucy Wishart
- Erin Lammack
- Derek Ball
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor |
- Sarah Easterby-Smith
- Bernhard Struck
- Victoria Donovan
|
| Academic mentorship |
- Alexander Voss
- Jane Brooks
- Euan Grant
|
| Commitment by a member of Professional Service Staff |
- Joanna Fry
- Beth Thomas
- Hanna Lundstrom
|
| Postgraduate student who tutors |
- Elizabeth Warren
- Hessa Alnuaimi
- Joshua Kelsall
|
2020
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Outstanding teacher (Arts and Divinity) |
- Ruslan Tuneshev
- Walter Pedriali
- Sam Haddow
- Taryn Shepperd
|
| Outstanding teacher (Science and Medicine) |
- Brian Chalmers
- Gerald Prescott
- Verena Dietrich-Bischoff
- David Harrison
|
| Outstanding teacher (evening degree) |
- (Joint module) Will Eves and Sarah White
- Karen Lane
|
| Innovative teaching |
- Maggie Ellis
- Margaret Leighton
- Predrag Bjelogrlic
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor |
- Faye Donnelly
- Jeffrey Murer
- Gozde Ozakinci
- Akira O’Connor
|
| Academic mentorship |
- Andrea Brock
- Malcom Petrie
- Nikolay Chernyshev
- Claudia Kreklau
|
| Commitment by a member of Professional Service Staff |
- Gillian Fleming
- Gary Barclay
- Cat Wilson
|
| Postgraduate student who tutors |
- Robin El Kady
- Laura Roe
- Preston Hill
- Antonia Niehuss
|
2019
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Outstanding teacher (Arts) |
- Dr Javier Letrán
- Dr Walter Pedriali
- Dr Stephanie O’Rourke
- Dr Claire Whitehead
|
| Outstanding teacher (Science) |
- Dr Chris Hooley
- Dr Katherine Keenan
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor |
- Dr Jonathan Keeling
- Dr Nikoletta Manioti
- Dr Martin Campbell
- Prof. Julie Harris
|
| Postgraduate who tutors |
- Ravi Thakral
- Amy Westwell
|
| Support staff member |
- Gail Reid
- Lisa Neilson
- Lesley-Anne Harrison
|
| Academic mentorship |
- Dr Nick Brooke
- Dr Kasim Terzic
- Prof. Malinda Carpenter
|
| Innovative teaching |
- Dr Lori Leigh Davis
- Dr Thomas Coleman
- Dr Antje Brown
|
2018
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Commitment by a support staff member |
- Fergus Knight, Saints Sport
- Cat Wilson, CAPOD
- Linda Kinlock, Library
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor |
- Eoin McLaughlin, Geography and SD
- Sam Rose, Art History
- Alistair Rider, Art History
- Dora Osborne, Modern Languages
|
| Innovation in teaching |
- Nicky Allison, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Antje Kohnle, Physics and Astronomy
- Joe Carson, Modern Languages
- Akira O’Connor, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Caroline Humfress, History
|
| Postgraduate student who tutors |
- Chris Peys, IR
- Matthew Shelton, Classics
|
| Excellent module in the faculties of Arts and Divinity |
- Nicolas Wiater, Classics
- Sandra Romenska, Management
- Sam Haddow, English
|
| Excellent module in the faculties of Science and Medicine |
- Antonia Wilmot-Smith, Mathematics and Statistics
- Alun Hughes, Medicine
|
| Academic mentorship award |
- Sarah Whittle, Student Services
- Lucy Donaldson, Film Studies
- Elise Hugueny-Leger, Modern Languages
|
| Outstanding teacher |
- Matthew Southern, Geography and SD
- Jonathan Cloutier, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Raluca Roman, Social Anthropology
|
2017
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Commitment by a support staff member |
- Cat Wilson, CAPOD
- Dorothy Christie, History
- Irene Paulton, Classics
- Sam Letham, Management
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor |
- John Hudson, History
- Louise Reid, Geography
- Isobel Falconer, Mathematics and Statistics
- Jonathan Keeling, Physics
|
| Innovation in teaching |
- Sandra Romenska, Management
- Charles Paxton, Mathematics and Statistics
- Juan Coderch, Classics
- Konrad Lawson, History
|
| Postgraduate student who tutors |
- Laurence Taylor, Chemistry
- Mazloum Ismail, Modern Languages
- Lori Davis, Management
- Mhairi Owens, English
|
| Excellent module in the faculties of Arts and Divinity |
- Kristen Harkness, International Relations
- Abigail Shinn, English
- Sandra Romenska, Management
- Jacqueline Rose, History
|
| Excellent module in the faculties of Science and Medicine |
- Maggie Ellis, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Barbara Dritschel, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Erin Robbins - Psychology and Neuroscience
|
| Academic mentorship award |
- Rona Ramsay, Biology
- Sarah Whittle, Student Services
- Sami Mikhail, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Adam Reed, Social Anthropology
|
| Outstanding teacher |
- Sharon Leahy, Geography
- Beci Carver, English
- Bridget Heal, History
- Jerry De Groot, History
- Kirstie Ball, Management
|
2016
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Commitment by a support staff member |
- Dorothy Christie, History
- Mhairi Aitkenhead, Social Anthropology
- Stuart Allison, Geography and Sustainable Development
- Linda Cousins, Physics and Astronomy
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Arts and Divinity) |
- Martin Campbell, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Christina Alt, English
- Andrew Hughes Hallett, Economics and Finance
- Daniel Knight, Social Anthropology
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Science and Medicine) |
- Timothy Raub, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Wenchang Li, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Stefan Pulver, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Alexandra Slawin, Chemistry
|
| Excellence in teaching – honours (Arts and Divinity) |
- Paloma Gay y Blasco, Social Anthropology
- Adam Bower, International Relations
- Lisa Jones, Philosophy
- Jeffrey Murer, International Relations
|
| Excellence in teaching – honours (Science and Medicine |
- Antje Kohlne, Physics and Astronomy
- William Cresswell, Biology
- Ian Parkin, Medicine
- Jane Wishart, Biology
|
| Excellence in teaching – postgraduate level |
- Eric Stoddart, Divinity
- Roddy Brett, International Relations
- Michael Cowan, Film Studies
- Erin Robbins, Psychology and Neuroscience
|
| Excellence in teaching – sub-honours (Arts and Divinity) |
- Ana del Campo, History
- Robert Bartlett, History
- Kleanthis Mantzouranis, Classics
- Paula Miles, Psychology and Neuroscience
|
| Excellence in teaching – sub-honours (Science and Medicine) |
- William McCarthy, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Akira O’Connor, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Colva Roney-Dougal, Mathematics and Statistics
- Matthew Sothern, Geography and Sustainable Development
|
| Innovation in teaching |
- Maggie Ellis, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Mario Aguilar, Divinity
- Madhavi Nevader, Divinity
|
| Postgraduate research thesis supervisor |
- Nigel Rapport, Social Anthropology
- Natasha O'Hear, Divinity
- Stavroula Pipyrou, Social Anthropology
- Philip Roscoe, Management
|
| Teaching excellence by a postgraduate student who tutors |
- Julianne Mentzer, English
- Isaac Blois, Divinity
- Matthew Pauley, Management
- Michele Wisdahl, Social Anthropology
|
2015
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Commitment by a support staff member |
- Stuart Allison, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Emily Feamster, Philosophy
- Katie Allan, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Arts and Divinity) |
- Jasmine Gani, International Relations
- Colette Lawson, Modern Languages
- Ian Johnson, English
- Christina Alt, English
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Science and Medicine) |
- Akira O'Connor, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Samantha Pitt, Medicine
- Tim Raub, Earth Sciences
- Julie Harris, Psychology and Neuroscience
|
| Postgraduate research thesis supervisor |
- Peter Mackay, English
- Andrea Di Falco, Physics and Astronomy
- Amanda Seed, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Shiona Chillas, Management
|
| Excellence in teaching – honours (Arts and Divinity) |
- Faye Donnelly, International Relations
- Kathryn Rudy, Art History
- Paloma Gay y Blasco, Social Anthropology
- Sophie Oosterwijk, Art History
|
| Excellence in teaching – honours (Science and Medicine) |
- Jane Wishart, Biology
- Lars Olsen, Maths
- Tony Prave, Earth Sciences
- Colva M Roney-Dougal, Maths
- James Ainge, Psychology and Neuroscience
|
| Excellence in teaching – sub-honours (Arts and Divinity) |
- Ian Smith, Economics
- Ana Del Campo, History
- Honora Bartlett, English
- Kleanthis Mantzourani, Classics
|
| Excellence in teaching – sub-honours (Science and Medicine) |
- Paula Miles, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Ian Parkin, Medicine
- Tim Raub, Earth Sciences
- Bruce Sinclair, Physics and Astronomy
|
| Excellence in teaching – postgraduate level |
- Sandra Romenska, Management
- Hazel Cameron, International Relations
- David Brown, Divinity
- Charles Lovatt, Management
|
| Innovation in teaching |
- Peter Cameron, Maths
- Catherine Spencer, Art History
- Martin Campbell, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Charlie Baily, Physics and Astronomy
|
| Postgraduate student who tutors |
- Matthew Pauley, Management
- Pinar Kadioglu, International Relations
- Susan Garrard, English
- Scott Millar, Medicine
|
2014
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Commitment by a support staff member |
- Iain Patterson, Chemistry
- Alexandra ‘Sandra’ Wallace, English
- Valerie Sturrock, Mathematics and Statistics
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Arts and Divinity) |
- Susan Sellers, English
- Ines Jentzsch, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Rick Fawn, International Relations
- Christina Alt, English
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Science and Medicine) |
- Scott Gregory, Physics and Astronomy
- Julie Harris, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Charles Baily, Physics and Astronomy
- Lars Boehme, Biology
|
| Innovation in teaching |
- Kristen Harkness, International Relations
- Ian Bradley, Divinity
- David Evans, Modern Languages
- Antje Kohnle, Physics and Astronomy
|
| Teaching excellence by a postgraduate student who tutors |
- Karolina Kuberska, Social Anthropology
- Steven Thomson, Physics and Astronomy
- Martin Skold, International Relations
- Fenner Tanswell, Philosophy
|
| Excellence in teaching – honours (Arts and Divinity) |
- Rebecca Sweetman, Classics
- Alex Davis, English
- Sian Lewis, Classics
- Tim Greenwood, History
|
| Excellence in teaching – honours (Science and Medicine) |
- Jonathan Keeling, Physics and Astronomy
- Andrew Smith, Chemistry
- Martyn Quick, Mathematics and Statistics
- Maggie Ellis, Psychology and Neuroscience
|
| Excellence in teaching – sub-honours (Arts and Divinity) |
- Maryam Ghorbankarimi, Modern Languages
- Tom Normand, Art History
- Olga Voronina, Modern Languages
- Ahab Bdaiwi, History
|
| Excellence in teaching – sub-honours (Science and Medicine) |
- Akira O’Connor, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Bruce Sinclair, Physics and Astronomy
- David Cole-Hamilton, Chemistry
- Alun Hughes, Medicine
|
| Excellence in teaching – postgraduate level |
- Sarah Marsden, International Relations
- Julian Luxford, Art History
- Sally Cummings, International Relations
- Colva Roney-Dougal, Mathematics and Statistics
|
2013
| Category |
Shortlist |
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Arts) |
- Dr Bridget Heal, Modern History
- Dr Caron Gentry, International Relations
- Dr Colette Lawson, Modern Languages
|
| Dissertation/project supervisor (Science) |
- Dr Chris Hooley, Physics and Astronomy
- Dr Martin Campbell, Psychology and Neuroscience
- Dr Rachel Davies, Medicine
|
| Innovation in teaching |
- Prof. Andrew Williams, International Relations
- Jeremy Kleidosty, International Relations
- Prof. Andrew Williams, International Relations
|
| Postgraduate student who tutors |
- Jonathan Fraser, Mathematics and Statistics
- Pardis Shafafi, Social Anthropology
|
| Teaching – sub-honours |
- Dr Susie Whiten, Medicine
- Dr Mark Imber, International Relations
- Dr Diane McGoldrick, Management
|
| Teaching – honours |
- Dr Tom Normand, Art History
- Dr Rory Cox, Mediaeval History
- Dr Tim Wilson, International Relations
|
| Teaching – postgraduate |
- Prof. Frances Andrews, Mediaeval History
- Dr Sarah Dillon, English
- Dr William Tooman, Divinity
|