2025 University Teaching Awards: Winners Honoured During the summaery
Every year, the awards endowed with 500 euros each recognise teachers, who are particularly committed and ambitious. Over the past few weeks, students from the university had the opportunity to nominate outstanding courses from the summer semester 2024 and winter semester 2024/25. All university members could then vote for the winners in a university-wide survey.
The 2025 winners at a glance | Photos: Thomas Müller
Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism
»Architektur- und Baugeschichte«, »Einführung in die Denkmalpflege« and »Stadt als Denkmal«, represented by Prof. Dr. Daniela Spiegel, Christine Dörner, Oliver Trepte and Nadin Augustiniok
Prof. Dr. Daniela Spiegel’s classes are considered excellent examples of how content can be presented vividly and clearly. It was among others noted in the nomination: »She gives fantastic lectures with noticeable enthusiasm and enjoyment of her work.« The students also praised the extensive interactions during classes, the opportunity to receive detailed feedback and the lecturer’s subject knowledge.
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering
»Einführung in das Bauen im Bestand« and »Historische Baukonstruktionen«, represented by Henrik Hinterbrandner
Hendrik Hinterbrandner has a talent for combining theoretical knowledge with practical application: He brings »illustrative objects« to almost every class, whether »solid beams or wooden building blocks«. He also discusses real construction projects and key issues relating to the »future topic« of building in existing structures in his courses, which are »sometimes neglected in other modules«. The students commended his commitment and the opportunity to »try out what you have learned for yourself«.
Faculty of Art & Design »TEXTIL HAND WERT«, represented by Anne Marx and Joy-Fabienne Enzmann
The students among others stated in their nomination that the course was »incredibly enjoyable, structured, interesting« and an »absolute enrichment for the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar«. The »content-related reference to working with textiles and critical reflection on their significance in the past, present and future« was additionally highlighted.
Faculty of Media
»Image analysis and object recognition«, »Spatial Information Systems (GIS)« and »Deep Learning for Computer Vision«, represented by Prof. Dr. Volker Rodehorst, David Eicke Tschirschwitz, Christian Benz, Anton Forlov and Jan Frederick Eick
Prof. Dr. Volker Rodehorst’s courses are considered »perfectly balanced«, »starting from the structure, teaching methods, exercise modules«. Students also deemed the way that Prof. Rodehorst explains everything »absolutely amazing«. The depth of content, which considered the latest industry norms and aided in further specialisation, was specifically highlighted. The lecturer was »always well prepared«, responded to questions and took different subject backgrounds into account.
Special award
for student teaching
»Medien/Feminismus: Spurensuche zwischen Theorie und Praxis«, represented by Johanna Medentsev, Jonah Nogens, Maria Cunetchi; mentor: Dr. Sebastian Lederle
The participating students described the seminar content as strong and the atmosphere as open. This was particularly evident in the fact that there were »no hierarchies between lecturers and students [...], we could all discuss things freely together and we weren’t afraid to ask questions.« The course provided in-depth knowledge of the history of feminism and addressed key socio-political topics such as biopolitics, power relations and gender roles. The lecturers created a »wonderfully relaxed and non-judgemental« atmosphere that encouraged a dialogue.
Special award
for boosting community spirit
»Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten«, represented by Larissa Barth, Dana Horch, Dr. Franziska Matthes; mentor: Prof. Dr. Daniela Spiegel
The teachers impressed with their outstanding commitment to the course’s organisation and digital support. Particularly the Moodle room created for the course was highlighted as a positive aspect. One student wrote of the course: »After two years of dreading my bachelor’s thesis, I finally feel ready to get started!«
For more information, see:
www.uni-weimar.de/de/universitaet/lehre/weiterentwicklung-des-lehrens-und-lernens/lehrpreis
In case of questions, please contact Larissa Barth (Strategic Development) by telephone (+49 (0) 36 43/58 12 52) or email (larissa.barth@uni-weimar.de).