TORT Student Led Teaching Award (SLTA) Nominations

Professor Rami Abboud, Mrs Rosemary Williams, Dr Tim Drew and Mr Arpit Jariwala were among a record-breaking 194 nominations by students for the University of Dundee Student Association (DUSA) 2017 Student Led Teaching Awards (with a record 39 nominations from the Medical School alone). Professor Abboud was nominated in two categories (Best Postgraduate Supervisor and Outstanding Commitment to Student Welfare) and has made it for the final round of the Best Postgraduate Supervisor with the winner (3 finalists) to be announced in a Black-tie event on the 25 May 2017 at DUSA. Mrs Williams was nominated for the Outstanding Enhancement of the Student Experience (Non-Teaching) and is one of three finalists for the award. Dr Drew and Mr Jariwala were nominated for the Best Project Supervisor and Most Inspirational Teaching categories respectively but have not made it to final round.

Kevin Burns, Deputy President DUSA, stated: “The SLTAs is the student body’s way of thanking the extraordinary people at this University who make such a massive impact on us through their work, and to recognise their excellence and devotion to their students. Nominations were considered by an eight member panel of students, staff and DUSA executive members who had the difficult task to draw up a shortlist and picking the winners from the record-breaking 194 nominations we have received.”

There are a total of nine awards available in seven categories:

• Most Inspirational Teaching (x3 awards) 82 nominations
• Innovation in Teaching (x1 award) 10 nominations
• Best Feedback and Assessment (x1 award) 9 nominations
• Best Adviser or Personal Tutor (x1 award) 39 nominations
• Outstanding Enhancement of the Student Experience (Non-Teaching) (x1 award) 6 nominations
• Best Postgraduate Supervisor (x1 award – new category) 21 nominations
• Outstanding Commitment to Student Welfare (x1 award) 27 nominations

Professor Abboud stated: “I would like to congratulate all staff who have been nominated for these important awards and also to thank whoever took the time and effort to nominate them, especially me and my colleagues in the School of Medicine. In my opinion just being nominated is as good as winning! I am obviously delighted and humbled to be nominated for two categories and feel that my nominations are a nomination for my efficient team at the TORT Centre. I am indebted to their hard work, dedication and ongoing support. They work tirelessly and beyond their contractual obligations to allow me to devote more time and energies into my role as teacher, supervisor and manager. In my eyes they are all worthy of an award. In this ever evolving university we sometimes forget exactly what it is we are here to do - simple - teach, support and educate – a legacy that we should abide by.”