Nominate your favourite teacher for the Excellent Teaching Award 2026
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at Örebro University and Ebba Löfgren, Vice-President for Educational Policy at Örebro Student Union.
Do you have a teacher who makes thoughtful pedagogical choices and creates opportunities for you as a student to take an active role in your learning? You can now nominate your favourite teacher for the Excellent Teaching Award 2026.
From 26 October to 15 November, all students can nominate their favourite teacher for this year’s Excellent Teaching Award. The award was instituted in 1999 and is presented by Örebro Student Union on behalf of Örebro University to two teachers who demonstrate deep and broad subject knowledge, make thoughtful pedagogical choices, and inspire student engagement through their teaching.
“The Excellent Teaching Award must be the finest award we have. To be recognised in this way as a teacher is truly special,” says Elin Vimefall, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education.
For her, good teaching is about continually developing teaching and learning practices and adapting them to students’ needs. She also emphasises the importance of designing teaching in ways that give students added value from attending lectures and other learning activities.
An important aspect of teaching excellence is creating a learning environment in which students feel involved and where their experiences and questions are valued.
“To me, an excellent teacher is someone who is responsive to their students and willing to try new approaches in their teaching practice,” says Ebba Löfgren, Vice-President for Educational Policy at Örebro Student Union.
New criteria for the Excellent Teaching Award 2026
This year, Örebro Student Union has introduced new criteria for the Excellent Teaching Award. Greater emphasis is placed on teaching expertise, engagement, and interaction between teachers and students.
“We want to place a stronger focus on teachers’ pedagogical skills, and we really want to highlight how important it is for students and teachers to engage with one another in the learning process,” says Ebba Löfgren.
Through the new criteria, the student union aims to give greater recognition to teachers who make thoughtful pedagogical choices and create opportunities for students to take an active role in their learning.
An assessment panel from Örebro Student Union will select two recipients of the Excellent Teaching Award. The nominated teachers remain completely anonymous to the panel, meaning that panel members do not know who the teachers are or which school they belong to. The deciding factor is not how many nominations a teacher receives, but how well the nomination describes the teacher’s pedagogical skills.
Örebro Student Union’s criteria for the Excellent Teaching Award
Engaging and inspiring: The teacher demonstrates commitment and enthusiasm for their subject and teaching, sparking students’ curiosity, motivation and willingness to actively participate in learning activities.
Responsive and adaptable: The teacher is attentive to students’ needs, varies and adapts their teaching to students’ different circumstances, and supports them in developing their knowledge, skills and abilities.
Intentional and reflective: The teacher takes a thoughtful and purposeful approach to teaching, is open to student feedback, and continuously develops and improves their teaching practices.
Knowledgeable and experienced: The teacher possesses deep and broad subject knowledge, shares their experience, and guides students in developing an understanding of their academic discipline or future profession.
Empathetic and caring: The teacher treats students with warmth and respect, creates a safe and inclusive learning environment, and strengthens students’ confidence in their own abilities.
Clear and well-organised: The teacher helps students navigate their learning, explains course content clearly, and ensures that assessments are fair and transparent.
Text: Anna Asplund
Photo: Maja Eriksson
Translation: Charlotta Hambre-Knight