Three academics and one UC Education academic receive the UC Teaching Excellence Award
March 11th, 2021
They are Ruby Olivares, Natalia Candido, Alejandra Meneses and Andrés Bernasconi, who will be recognized on April 9, when the academic year at the university begins. The award highlights the work and practices of teachers.
Teaching is an important task, but committing to student learning through good teaching is exemplary. That is what stands out to the four professors from the Faculty of Education of the Catholic University who this year will receive the Recognition Award for Teaching Excellence UC (PRED): Ruby Olivares, Natalia Candido, Alexandra Meneses y Andres Bernasconi.
The award recognizes the teachers who fulfill the mission of the university to train quality professionals through excellent teaching work and following the Guiding Principles for Quality Teaching UC. The award is granted by the Academic Vice-Rector's Office, through the Teacher Development Center.
For the director of Academic Development of Education UC, Daniela Véliz, “This is a very important recognition, not only for those awarded teachers but also for our community, where the teaching work is extremely important for the modeling of our future teachers”. The official recognition ceremony will be held virtually on Friday, April 9.
Alejandra Meneses will be awarded along with Andrés Bernasconi in the general category, in which full-time academics with more than five years of experience at UC compete. For the academic Meneses “this recognition fills me with gratitude and with this I recognize my students, assistants and colleagues. Also, to my teachers.
Meanwhile, Andrés Bernasconi says that “PRED exemplifies the varied and creative ways in which professors can embody the guiding principles for quality teaching at UC. In my case, through problem-based learning”.
Recognition from students and colleagues
To obtain the award, a committee reviews the results of the teacher evaluations of the last 3 years, in addition to background such as a letter of introduction from the academic, awarded projects, teaching activities and reviews of their students. Teachers can be nominated by their peers and students.
About, Ruby Olivares, winner in the Initiation category – for teachers with less than five years practicing at the university -, says that “I feel that the dedication and enthusiasm with which I transmit knowledge is perceived and valued by my students. It challenges me to be better every day to continue contributing to the training of new generations of teachers”
Natalia Candido, awarded in the Part-Time category, assures that “being recognized with the PRED represents great professional satisfaction and deepens my will and dedication for a successful development of my teaching in each course taught. I am immensely grateful to my students and colleagues, without whom this would not have been possible."
