The Golden Apple Awards is a scheme run by the Students’ Union to enable students to reward academic members of staff who exhibit exceptional teaching standards or are particularly inspiring within their field. Students from across the University are welcome to nominate their tutor, lecturer, seminar leader, module coordinator; any member of staff who has had a particularly influential role to play in the student’s academic development. These awards are given annually to outstanding members of academic staff, voted for by the students whom they teach. This year there will also be a Golden Apple awarded to the teaching department that has the highest response rate for the National Student Survey and a Golden Apple awarded to one member of professional services staff that students vote for.
This Year the Golden Apple Award Ceremony was held on Wed 25th May 2011 1-2pm.
We asked students what qualities would make a tutor an ideal candidate for a teaching excellence award they said…
“Someone who puts in the hours has good communication with students, gives constructive criticism to students, who is influential, who always wants to help students, who has structured meeting times so you can get a good clear one to one, who is dedication to their job and students. Someone who is interesting, funny, engaging, represents students and not just the university, is on your side, is approachable, has structured manageable lessons, has motivation, encourages participation, gives qualitative descriptive critical feedback, helps with essay structures, gives explanations of expectations, promotes student support, has an inter-departmental attitude, has good communication between modules with different lecturers and seminar tutors. Someone who goes the extra mile, is consistent, takes care of students social needs, is enthusiastic, passionate, approachable, goes beyond what they are paid to do, conveys their own experience, has good subject knowledge. Someone that responds to students, puts effort into lectures, keeps on the ball, is easy to communicate with, is realistic, patient, has a nice smile, wears the appropriate clothing, is interactive, friendly, interesting, punctual, dedicated, supportive, welfare concerned, and gives feedback on time.”
The Students’ Union received 113 nominations for 47 members of staff for the Golden Apple Awards 2010.
The Students’ Union received 304 nominations for 123 members of staff for the Golden Apple Awards 2011.
The Winners for 2011 were:
Arts & Humanities – Paul Dennis
Business & Management – Jake Monk
Education – Julie Evans
Health & Social Care – Vanessa Abrahamson
Social & Applied Sciences – Liz Steadman
Support Staff – John Hills
Department with highest NSS response rate – Health, Wellbeing & Family
The Winners for 2010 were:
Arts & Humanities – Andrew King
Business & Management – Nicky Leatherbarrow
Education – Michael Green
Health & Social Care – Debbie King
Social & Applied Sciences – Shauna McCuster
