Winner of the Excellent Teaching Award: “It’s the ultimate prize”

A crowded room in Forumhuset in Örebro filled quickly with well-wishers on the Wednesday morning. Sara Frödén expected to meet a group of students, as usual. Instead, there were flowers and praise for one of this year’s two recipients of the Excellent Teaching Award.

“I was completely surprised,” she says.

Sara Frödén has worked as a senior lecturer and researcher in education at Örebro University since 2012. She teaches on the teacher education programme.

She is given the award because she is “an educator with both skills and presence – not only because she masters her subject well, but also because she succeeds in creating a learning environment where knowledge comes to life and becomes meaningful. Students report that Sara varies her teaching methods in ways that spark engagement and curiosity.”

“Teaching is incredibly important. Being able to integrate my own research is a big advantage – it makes me even more enthusiastic. But I also really enjoy designing courses and reflecting on teaching and learning approaches,” says Sara Frödén.

Inspires students and shows innovation

The award is presented by Örebro Student Union on behalf of the university to two teachers who inspire students and demonstrate innovation in their teaching. It has been awarded since 1999 – every year since Örebro became a university. This year, students submitted around 300 nominations.

“It’s important to recognise teachers who truly stand out in their teaching skills and expertise. Good teachers who engage with their students are incredibly valuable,” says Ebba Löfgren, Vice President for Educational Policy at Örebro Student Union. 

Another unexpected visit

Just after lunch, it was time for the second award winner to get a surprise visit.

In a lecture room in the Sports building, Adrian Hosford-Donovan was explaining a PowerPoint slide when the door opened and loud cheers erupted.

He is a lecturer in sports physiology and mainly teaches on the Sports Science and Coaching Programme and the Subject Teacher Education Programme. His courses often cover anatomy, sports physiology, principles of training and training methodology, as well as physiological testing methods related to sports and physical activity for disease prevention. In fact, it was preventing illness through physical activity that was on the agenda on the Wednesday afternoon.

Adrian Hosford-Donovan had to unexpectedly pause his PowerPoint presentation on health when colleagues and students entered the room – carrying flowers while cheering for him.

The reasons he is given the award include his ability to explain complex topics so that all students understand: “He knows that anatomy can be overwhelming, and that shapes his way of teaching. When something is unclear, he stops, tries another approach, or shows a new illustration until he sees that the group is following. This skill – ensuring understanding – is described as one of his most distinctive qualities.”

“I am shocked, actually, and very, very surprised. It’s wonderful to be acknowledged and be told that I’m doing a good job with the students,” says Adrian Hosford-Donovan.