Since 2006, SLU has awarded two cash prizes of SEK 25,000 to individuals and groups for “exemplary efforts within teaching an education” in conjunction with SLU's degree conferment ceremony in October. One award is individual (teacher, director of studies or equivalent) and one award can be a team award (teaching team, department or equivalent). Candidates can be nominated by students and teachers.
Individual Educational Award 2025
The Individual Educational Award 2025 goes to Anders Dahlberg, Professor of Mycology at the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology.
“It really warms the soul to receive this appreciation from our students. The meetings with them are exciting, educational and important, and they mean a lot to me,” says Anders Dahlberg. “Being able to share their thoughts and reasoning and at the same time having the privilege of being able to acknowledge their curiosity and help knowledge and understanding grow. Meeting the students' questions has enriched both my research and my outreach activities.”
Justification
“Through his engaging and inspiring way of teaching, Anders Dahlberg has managed to arouse genuine interest and motivation in his students and colleagues. He invites conversation while encouraging reflection and critical thinking. Students feel listened to and involved in the teaching, which creates an inclusive and stimulating learning environment where questions and different perspectives can take place.
When Anders' teaching is connected to current social issues, he highlights facts, the views of different stakeholders and the complexity of decision-making – without taking a position himself. In this way, students are able to form their own well-founded opinions. Through his commitment, openness and integrity, Anders Dahlberg has been a role model as an educator and an invaluable asset to SLU's education programmes.”
Team Award 2025
The Team Award 2025 goes to the teaching team behind the course “Soil water processes in agroecosystems”: Researcher Elsa Coucheney, Professor Nick Jarvis and Researcher Anna Lindahl at the Department of Soil and Environment.
“We have put a lot of work into this course over many years so it is very gratifying that the students appreciate what we do,” says Nick Jarvis. “It is the first course in the master's programme Soil, water and environment, and it is important that the students get a good start. One challenge is the students' different backgrounds – some are biologists, others are engineers, and they come from different countries. Something we find very useful in teaching is computer modelling tools that visualize what the different equations mean in practice.”
Justification
“The teaching team teaches and implements the course in a way that the students experience as clearly student-centered. Everyone in the teaching team is very committed and they constantly use well-thought-out teaching methods. At the same time, they manage to create a learning environment that is open and inclusive, which is highlighted as very valuable, not least by international students.
The teaching team has a highly appreciated ability to clearly connect theoretical and practical elements. The students also highlight the teachers' listening and respectful attitude as an important basis for them as students to dare to be curious and engaged, in relation to both course content and teaching methods.”
Contact persons
Jan Stockfors
Educational Development Unit (EPU)
jan.stockfors@slu.se, 018-673021
Anna Hartman
Educational Development Unit (EPU)
anna.hartman@slu.se, 018-673012, 076-1463012
