The livestreamed USI Student Achievement Awards Ireland recognised 870 Teaching Heroes across 32 higher education institutions following a national nomination campaign in late 2020.
The Teaching Hero Awards, which took place on 30th April 2021 are co-ordinated through a partnership between the National Forum, the Union of Students in Ireland and other students’ unions across the country.
This year’s Awards were based on nominations received in late 2020, in which students were asked to respond to the following:
Tell us about your higher education Teaching Hero in 150 words or less. Don’t just tell us that your Teaching Hero was great … tell us why.
Students were encouraged to consider the wide range of those who teach, including lecturing staff, tutors, supervisors, technicians, librarians and any who are involved in teaching students across the sector.
The nomination process provides an opportunity for students to shine a light on some of those who have made a difference to them during their studies. Across the three iterations of the Awards, over 6,500 students have taken time to submit nominations. Data from previous Teaching Hero Awards, published here, show that students who participated in the nomination process valued their teachers for certain kinds of characteristics and behaviour. Typical of these included: generosity with time, approachability, helpfulness, passion for their subject, encouraging of student learning, and skilled communication. Examples of how well those who teach responded to the pandemic context was also mentioned by many students in submissions received in 2020.
This year’s Awards were non-competitive, with all those who had received nominations and were happy to accept an Award being included in the list of Awardees. The Awards video, featuring the names of all Teaching Heroes and examples of the nominations received can be viewed below.
In the coming weeks, all Teaching Heroes will receive a Teaching Hero Award scroll and digital badge in recognition of their achievement.
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