The nominations are in: these six teachers are in the running for a Teacher Award
Good lecturers deserve recognition. That is why Utrecht University has been awarding two special prizes since 1994: Teacher of the Year and Teacher Talent of the Year. After 33 nominations by students, the jury has now nominated six lecturers who are in the running for one of these titles.
The nominees for 2026
The jury had a difficult task, but from the 33 nominated lecturers, three candidates have now been nominated for Teacher of the Year and three for Teacher Talent of the Year. These are the nominees (in alphabetical order):
Teacher of the Year:
- João Trabucho Alexandre (Earth Sciences, nominated by UAV)
- Marijke de Belder (Dutch Language and Culture, nominated by Awater)
- Karin Fikkers (Communication and Information Sciences, nominated by SV Contact)
Teacher Talent of the Year:
- Kim Borsen (ALPO/Educational Sciences, nominated by SV Vocus)
- Mette Bruinsma (History, nominated by UHSK)
- Jeroen Ooge (Information Science, nominated by Sticky)
What makes these prizes so special?
It is the students themselves who nominate their lecturers via their study association. A jury consisting of lecturers and students then assesses the nominations based on criteria such as educational vision, the creation of interaction and the role of the lecturer within and outside the programme.
Save the date: March 5th 2026
The winners will be announced during the Onderwijsfestival on 5 March in the University Hall. Curious to find out who will receive the awards this year? Come to the Onderwijsfestival or keep an eye on the website that day!