Commended by the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Science and Humanities in Germany and the German Rector's Conference for innovative and student-oriented teaching concepts
03.04.2012
The Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany and the German Rector's Conference (HRK) have awarded the Ars legendi Prize 2012 for Excellence in University Teaching in the field of social sciences to Dr. Malte Persike of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Professor Dr. Nina Kölsch-Bunzen of Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. Both recipients were honored for the development and sustainable implementation of innovative and student-oriented teaching concepts. HRK Vice President Professor Dr. Ursula Gather cites Dr. Malte Persike's impressive ability to make his students enthusiastic about learning psychological methods and statistics as one of the main reasons why Persike was chosen to receive the prize. Gather noted: "By using multimedia tools, he is able to provide students with intensive individualized supervision. He has not only spurred on the development and introduction of electronic testing formats in his own discipline, but across the entire university as well".
"I am of course extremely pleased that Dr. Malte Persike of Mainz University has received this year's Ars legendi Prize for his creative teaching methods and his didactical commitment. I would like to heartily congratulate him for being awarded one of the highest honors for university teaching in Germany. He has demonstrated just how dedicated young faculty members in Rhineland-Palatinate are to making a decisive contribution to university education and that their efforts are being recognized by the student body which is also represented on the joint Donors' Association and HRK jury," says Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister of Science, Doris Ahnen.
"I am also very delighted that Dr. Malte Persike has received this high-ranking award as his commitment to teaching has really been a source of motivation for the students of our Institute of Psychology," says Professor Dr. Georg Krausch, President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. "It is all the more important that the Ars legendi Prize has been awarded to Dr. Persike because he represents the non-professional teaching staff who play a very important role across the board in terms of university education, but whose efforts do not always receive the level of appreciation that they deserve".
One of the most important core tasks of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is to provide for high quality teaching. As part of the University's efforts in this regard, JGU established the Gutenberg Teaching Council in February 2011. Its task is to coordinate and promote the advancement of the many activities already being undertaken with regard to the strategic improvement of teaching methods and the further development of teaching skills. Particular emphasis is being placed on the need for innovative teaching methods and a reflective approach to teaching and learning processes across all levels of the University.
Established in 2006 and jointly sponsored by the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany and the German Rector's Conference, the Ars legendi Prize includes prize money of €50,000 and goes to recipients from a different discipline each year. The Ars legendi Prize serves as an acknowledgment of the special importance of university teaching for the promotion of young academics. It is part of a conscious effort to ensure more recognition for excellence in teaching.