Davis awarded teaching prize

26 May 2011. The President of the Student Union, Christian Funk, awarded the prize for excellent teaching to Prof. James Davis, Ph.D., on the occasion of the Dies academics. This award by the Student Union is a symbol of appreciation of the winner’s outstanding teaching activities.

Teaching as the central point of a professor’s work

"I regard the distiction granted by the students as confirmation of my conviction that teaching belongs in the center of a Professor's work and should be directed more at encouraging stundents to think rather than forcing them to learn. It is a conviction that I observed in the best of my own teachers and I am happy that I can pass it on to the next generation" said James Davis about his award. 

Students’ decision
The prize was established by the Student Union in 2005 in order to create an incentive for good teaching. The Credit Suisse Foundation has supported this award with prize money ever since 2006. All students are able to participate in the nomination and election of the prize winner. After the proposals have been collected, a Student Union committee evaluates them. The resulting shortlist of six to ten nominees is then submitted to the students’ vote. The nominee with the best result wins the prize.

Previous prize winners
2010: Dr. Dirk Schäfer

2009: Prof. Dr. Manfred Gärtner

2008: Prof. Dr. Rolf Peter Sieferle

2007: Prof. Dr. Torsten Tomczak

2006: Prof. Dr. Kerstin Odendahl

2005: Prof. Dr. Christoph Frei