News

A touch of inspiration

Published 24 May 2012

Inspirational teachers, student representatives and support staff were officially recognised by University of Brighton students at the Huxley Building's lecture theatre in Moulsecoomb last night.

The 2012 Excellence Awards, organised by the Students' Union, celebrate university life by recognising course representatives, teaching excellence and outstanding student support and student-focussed excellence as well as outstanding contributions to student experience, academic experience and student life.

The awards are now in their second year. This year, more than 1,100 nominations for 166 course reps and 500 members of academic and support staff were received.

Left to right: awards winners Rosie Powell, Aurella Yussuf, Amy Rutland (Students' Union Vice President Academic Affairs), and Joseph Henry

Those nominating gave glowing accounts of the winners. One student spoke of a tutor who "constantly goes the extra mile for students". Another spoke of a teacher who is "simply the most caring, inspirational and approachable tutor you could wish for". Another tutor was "truly an inspiration", and another was "probably the best teacher I've ever come across, in terms of making me want to study and do more than I need to pass".

Two tutors, Dr Deshinder Singh Gill and Dr Jayne Raisborough, won awards for the second year running. Last year Dr Gill won the E-Learning Teaching Award for the tutor who makes the most innovative use of electronic media in their teaching. This year he scooped the award for being the 'Mastermind' of Studentcentral, the university's online learning environment. He said that, with his wife in the audience and hearing how much effort he spent producing podcasts, blogs and other media on Studentcentral, "she now knows why the lawn is never cut". Dr Raisborough won the Outstanding Contribution to the Student Experience Award, having collected the Inspirational Teaching Award in 2011.

Dr Deshinder Singh Gill, awarded Mastermind of Studentcentral

One Teaching and Learning Achievement Award went to a tearful Suzanne Hutchinson whose students said was able to strike the right balance between being a lecturer and a friend. A second Teaching and Learning Achievement Award went to Deb Barrett. Her students said that they could call or e-mail her in the middle of the night and they would still get supportive responses.

Professor Andrew Lloyd said the evening celebrated the most important relationship within the university – that of staff and students.

Winners

The 2012 winners were: Course rep of the year: Nicola Read, Semere Estifanos, Jade Buckingham, Cara Cousins, Zoe Willard, Emma Wyatt, Jacqui Fisher, Joseph Henry, Rosie Powell, Louise Hewitt, Catherine Wilson, Tessa Hope, Fredrika Uppman, Hayley Darby, Aurella Yussuf, Kerry Moss, Connor Byrne, Colum Kenny, Olga Pope and Jaki Poyton.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Highly commended and award winners

Achievement Award: Debra Barrett, Suzanne Hutchinson. Highly Commended: Dan Bennett, James Coughtrey.

Inspirational Teaching Award: Dr Marc Keech, Richard Jacobs. Highly Commended: Dr Gary Stidder.

Teaching Award for Academic Engagement: Dr Huguette Comerasamy, Anne Rimmer. Highly Commeded: Annie Richardson.

Postgraduate Support Award: Sarah Field. Highly Commended: Natasha Sigala and Sarah Fitzjohn-Scott.

Support Staff Award: Individual Award - Matt Page. Highly Commended: Marilyn Doust. Support Staff Group Award - Staff at the Leaf Hospital (including cleaning ladies & maintenance man). Highly Commended as a group: Amy Hughes & Sam Bakewell.

21st Century Teaching Award: Jarod Locke. Highly Commended: Adam Jones and Bhavik Patel.

The Vice-President Academic’s Award for Student Focussed Excellence: Cath Morgan.

The Vice-President Academic’s Award for Outstanding Student Support: Nicola Trelawny.

Outstanding Contribution to the Student Experience Award: Jayne Raisborough.

Outstanding Contribution to the Academic Experience Award: Joseph Henry.

Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Award: Alexandra Botting.

Award for Mastermind of Studentcentral: Dr Deshinder Singh Gill. Highly Commended: Caroline Hodges, Kepa Artaraz, Liz Guy, Nigel Jarvis.