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Pedagogical excellence at the University of Maribor
The primary mission and guiding principle of the University of Maribor is the dissemination and enrichment of knowledge. UM Awards for Pedagogical Excellence recognize and encourage excellence in pedagogical work and acknowledge the significant contribution of individuals to innovations in the pedagogical process. At the same time, they encourage further excellent work, co-creating a brighter future, and creating a space to utilize the full potential of each individual.
CaptionNarekovaj citata True education is not about learning what to think but about learning how to think.
Dr. Anton Trstenjak, Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Maribor
About the award
The UM Award for Pedagogical Excellence is aimed at recognising and promoting the development of staff excellence in the pedagogical field. It aims to highlight individuals and groups who, through their actions, strengthen the core mission of the university as an educational institution. Key information about the award:
The award ceremony usually takes place on 5 October, which is World Teachers' Day. The awards are presented by the Rector of the University of Maribor.
Annually, one main award is typically conferred for higher education teachers and one for higher education associates, in two fields: 1. Natural Sciences, Engineering, Health, and Agriculture and 2. Social Sciences and Humanities. Exceptionally, one additional award may be conferred, so the maximum number of awards is six.
In addition to the monetary award, 5 pedagogical points are also awarded for habilitation criteria.
From nomination to selection
The nomination and selection procedures are managed by the Committee for Conferring UM Awards for Pedagogical Excellence, which evaluates complete applications and submits proposals for final awarding to the UM Senate. Key information about the nomination and selection procedure:
Nominations are collected until the end of the summer exam period of the current academic year.
A nomination can be submitted by a group of at least three students, the Faculty’s Student Council, the Senate of the Faculty (by proposal of the Faculty’s Academic Affairs Committee), and the head of the study programme.
Before the evaluation begins, the Committee determines the weight of the criteria for the final assessment, which do not change during the year.
The criteria for evaluating nominations consider submitted documents such as the professional adequacy of the course unit description, results of the survey on pedagogical work, achievement of expected study outcomes, results of effective use of pedagogical approaches and educational technologies, use of effective methods of testing and evaluating knowledge, encouragement of the comprehensive development of students' professional careers, etc.
Overview of key information and forms in the selection procedure for the UM Award for Pedagogical Excellence:
1. NOMINATIONProposals are collected until the end of the summer exam period of the current academic year.
📝Proposers submit the nomination with the
form in Appendix 1 (opens in new tab).
3. REASONINGThe nominee describes the details of the pedagogical approach and justifies the nomination.
📝The nominee submits the reasoning by sending the
form in Appendix 3 (DOCX; 49 KB) to edustudy@um.si
📢 Detailed information about the procedure and conferral of the award are laid down in the
Rules Governing the Awards of the University of Maribor for Pedagogical Excellence No. 012/2023/2 (PDF; 207 KB).