News

Praise indeed

Published 24 May 2013

Students poured praise on tutors, staff and course representatives at an Excellence Awards night at the University of Brighton.

"Inspirational", "kind and generous", and, "a very supportive, efficient person who always makes you feel important and good about yourself" were just some of the compliments paid by students who nominated their favourites to a panel of judges.

The 29 winners of the 2013 Students' Union Excellence Awards, were chosen from around 1,100 individual nominations. The awards cover nine staff categories and course representatives from across the university, including its partner colleges, and celebrate university life by recognising excellent teaching and student support as well as outstanding contributions to student experience, academic experience and student life.

Staff winners included Dr Mark Devenney, from the Faculty of Arts, who received the Achievement Award for his "inspirational holistic teaching". He was nominated by a student from a non-traditional background who is now considering an academic career. Dr Devenney was praised for his contact and support before the student joined the university and throughout the student’s course, "including a real personal input to help the student develop a critical approach to the subject".

Dr Carl Walker, from the School of Applied Social Science, received the 21st Century Teaching Award for his use of twitter to engage with his students during lectures through questions, responses and engagement.

Julia Balme from the Faculty of Arts, who won the Support Staff Award, was praised by her students for keeping them in contact with the university and beyond in a friendly, supportive way.

Left to right: Mark Devenney, Julia Balme and Carl Walker

Student award winners included mechanical engineering student, Sunday Ejii, who was awarded Course Representative of the Year and the School of Computing, Engineering & Maths Award. He was nominated for his work to highlight and push forward issues and practical gaps in students' university experience and for highlighting areas where the university is doing things right.

Heather Osborne was given the School of Education award and also named Course Representative of the Year, for her proactive and effective work on the PGCE course. The nomination praised her ability to "create dialogue between students and the university that is constructive innovative and enthusiastic" and for taking on a welfare role outside of her official role as a Course Representative.

This year a new set of awards for students and staff recognises the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). The PASS leader award and the PASS supervisor award recognise excellence in facilitating peer-assisted learning.

PASS is a student-led initiative where student leaders bring together a group of their fellow students to discuss course material, study habits and the wider issues around student life. The students lead this group, meeting over the course of the first semester, helping new students adapt to university life.The staff supervisors support the student leaders to deliver these sessions.The award for PASS Supervisor Award went to Student Support and Guidance Tutor, Gabby Barker "for her constant contact, helpful support and sheer perseverance which have been instrumental in her leaders overcoming obstacles and continuing to help their students thrive". Priyanka Bachheta and Nazeer Ahmad both studying pharmacy, were awarded the student PASS Leader Awards for "providing both a positive learning environment and a personal and committed introduction for their students into university life".

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Laing, said: "These awards are now a highlight of the academic year. They are going from strength to strength and we are delighted that so many students take the time to nominate members of staff and their peers for this accolade."

2013 Excellence Award winners

The full list of winners:

Postgraduate Support Award: Dr Graham Stew
Highly commended: Dr Penny Simpson and Kerry Doyle

Achievement Award: Dr Mark Devenney
Highly commended: Paul Atkins, Tim Rowland, Dr Louisa Beale highly commended for Achievement Award

Teaching Award for Academic Engagement: Keith Triggs
Highly commended: Richard Wallis, Tim Rowland, Dan Bennett

Support Staff Award: Julia Balme, School of Education Partnership
Highly commended: Matt Homer, Martina Knight, Mary Baldwin

Support Staff Team Award: School of Education Partnership Office
Highly commended: the Cleaners and Caretakers of Leaf Hospital

21st Century Teaching Award: Dr Carl Walker
Highly commended: Kevin Barrett

Inspirational Teaching Award: Mark Jordan
Highly commended: Dr Jessica Moriarty, Nigel Cook

Student Engagement Award: Tim Rowland
Highly commended: Terry Mead

Brighton Business School Award: Steve Carey
Highly commended: Florentine Terpstra

Hastings Campus Award: Alice Elizabeth Smith

Plumpton College Award: Joe Goodall

School of Applied Social Sciences Award: Charlotte Joyce

School of Art, Media and Design Award: Faith Rowley
Highly commended: Mylinh Nguyen

School of Computing, Engineering and Maths Award: Sunday Ejii, Richard Simmonite

School of Education Award: Heather Osborne
Highly commended: Yasmeen Aslam

School of Environment and Technology Award: Sebastian Springer
Highly commended: Jack Stephens

School of Health Professions Award: Bethan Evans and Mary Goodwin

School of Humanities Award: Miriam Hemstock

School of Nursing and Midwifery Award: Jenny Chiumento
Highly commended: Hannah Brook and Nicola Hawes

School of Pharmacy and Bio-molecular Sciences Award: Dervis Gurol, Giauri Patel

School of Sport and Service Management Award: George Istvan Svanias
Highly commended: Greg Withington, Matthew Hudson

University Course Representative of the Year: Heather Osbourne, Sunday Eiij
Highly commended: Guari Patel, Dervis Gurol

PASS Leader Award: Priyanka Bachheta and Nazeer Ahmad awarded PASS Leader Award
Highly commended: Chloe Dixon, George Arestis, Kurt Lloyd, Hayley Weller

PASS Supervisor Award: Gabby Barker
Highly commended: Deborah Madden, Catherine McConnell