News

Excellent Education Awards for FEM

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May 8, 2015

Two FEM coordinators received an award for excellent education: Ute Sass-Klaassen for FEM22306 - Forest Resources and Sustainable Management Systems and Lourens Poorter for FEM30306 - Advanced Forest Ecology and Forest Management.

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FEM also had a major contribution to a third awarded course by Fred de Boer (REG31806 - Ecological Methods I). For Ute Sass-Klaassen this was the second time in a row: her course was also awarded last year.

The Executive Board of Wageningen UR highly values excellent education. Therefore the Executive Board awards a prize for excellent education on a regular basis. A quality indicator is calculated based on the results of questions on course set up, learning outcomes, teaching methods, previously acquired knowledge, overlap, the contribution of the lecturers to the learning process, examination and on the general rating of the course.

Based on results of course evaluations in 2013/2014 the 30 most appreciated course were identified, "Forest Resources and Sustainable Management Systems",  "Advanced Forest Ecology and Forest Management" and "Ecological Methods I" being one of them. Students' opinions on their education is one of the indicators whether Wageningen University provides courses that inspire young people and meet their expectations. To qualify for a prize, a course has to meet two conditions: 1) at least 10 students have filled in the course evaluation, and 2) the response rate for the course was at least 20%

Student satisfaction is an important indicator for quality of education, but should not be the sole source of information. This is the reason the peer review of courses will be taken into account as well. From 2015 onwards a successful peer review is another prerequisite for a course to receive a prize.



Award winners: Fred de Boer (REG), Lourens Poorter (FEM), Juul Limpens (NCP), Ute Sass-Klaassen (FEM) and Marielos Pena-Claros (FEM). ©Guy Ackermans
Award winners: Fred de Boer (REG), Lourens Poorter (FEM), Juul Limpens (NCP), Ute Sass-Klaassen (FEM) and Marielos Pena-Claros (FEM). ©Guy Ackermans