State Teaching Prize Goes to Two Lecturers from TU Dortmund University
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On 27 November the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW) of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) awarded the state teaching prizes, each endowed with 50,000 euros, to six outstanding university lecturers. The special prize for “Teaching and Learning in a Team” is shared by Dr. Lena Tacke from the Department of Humanities and Theology and Dr. Vanessa Henke from the Department of Educational Sciences and Psychology.
They inspire students for learning, research and practice – and provide a service to society with the excellent education of young people. Ina Brandes, Minister of Culture and Science, honored outstanding university lecturers in Düsseldorf this week. “We also owe the success of our excellent university landscape to the outstanding achievements in teaching. Lecturers who see their profession as a calling and are passionate about passing on their knowledge to young people are the multipliers for a new generation of researchers, engineers, artists and scholars in the humanities. I would like to thank the award winners for their great dedication. They make our universities in North Rhine-Westphalia even better,” said the Minister.
The state teaching prize was awarded in five categories. Prof. Wiebke Möhring, Vice President Academic Affairs of TU Dortmund University, congratulated the two Dortmund academics Dr. Lena Tacke and Dr. Vanessa Henke on their special prize for “Teaching and Learning in a Team”: “We are delighted that your outstanding commitment to special teaching arrangements and the topic of sustainability in teacher training has also been recognized at state level,” said the communication scientist.
Dr. Lena Tacke teaches theology in teacher training. In her courses, she combines research and teaching, and addresses current social transformation processes in religious education. Tacke designs interdisciplinary and cooperative teaching concepts, particularly with regard to education for sustainable development (ESD). In order to continuously improve teaching and examination formats, she evaluates teaching/learning arrangements developed together with students. She strengthens cooperation with stakeholders within and outside the university to further develop teacher training in an interdisciplinary way. In winter semester 2023/24, Dr. Lena Tacke holds the Professorship of Religious Education at the Institute of Catholic Theology at RWTH Aachen University.
Dr. Vanessa Henke is a seconded teacher at the Institute of General Didactics and School Pedagogy. As a trained primary school teacher, she combines teaching and research in the educational sciences and works in interdisciplinary teams to design collaborative learning settings for future teachers. In these settings, the student teachers deal with social transformation processes – particularly in relation to education for sustainable development. Dr. Vanessa Henke uses educational science theories and models to critically reflect on teachers’ actions, teaching and school development processes together with students. She develops her teaching both through evaluation in interdisciplinary teams and by involving students.
Dr. Lena Tacke and Dr. Vanessa Henke are working together on the project "BNERoom: Digital Escape Room to Strengthen ESD in Teacher Education" developed at TU Dortmund University, which is funded by a DigiFellowship. The aim of the digital serious game is to bring teacher training students together to discuss selected sustainability goals of the United Nations.
Prize money to further develop teaching
The state teaching prizes were awarded for the third time after 2019 and 2021. In addition to the special prizes “Teaching and Learning in Teams” and “Teaching Young Scientists”, there are categories for the three different types of higher education institutions: “Teaching at Universities”, “Teaching at Universities of Applied Sciences” and “Teaching at Universities of Art and Music”. With the prize money of 50,000 euros each, the winners can further develop their teaching.
A jury of lecturers, students and university didactics experts decides on the awards. Departments and student councils can nominate candidates; lecturers can also apply themselves.