2025 Distinguished Teaching Award winners named

Potential recipients of the awards are nominated by students and colleagues. The award winners are then decided by the Vice-Chancellor based on a proposal from a review committee.

The 2025 Independent Distinguished Teaching Award on the theme “Belonging and participation” has been awarded to Maria Kjellsson at the Department of Pharmacy.

Maria Kjellsson teaches international Master’s students at an early stage in their encounters with the Swedish academic context. On her own initiative, she has taught herself more about cultural differences and mental illness, and through this she has developed an understanding of the challenges that these students face and developed strategies that enable her to respond to them in the best possible way. Maria engages her students by showing interest in their backgrounds and is keen to create a sense of belonging in the group. Students speak of her as an inspiring mentor and role model, not least because of her inclusive approach.

Theology, Humanities, and Educational Sciences

Lecturer Ray Whitcher at the Department of Game Design has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award in the area of Theology, Humanities and Educational Sciences.

Ray Whitcher has a rare ability to enthuse his students. He sees each and every student as an individual and spends a lot of time and effort giving constructive feedback to the students on their assignments and projects. Ray’s teaching has a clear connection to research, and his energy and passion for the subject area of game design are infectious. His engagement with teaching is expressed in creative and much appreciated types of instruction that lay the foundation for the students to keep learning in their future working lives and for research in the subject area.

Law and Social Sciences

Professor PerOla Öberg at the Department of Government has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award in the area of Law and Social Sciences.

PerOla Öberg is a teacher who fosters curiosity and encourages dialogue in his teaching. His empathy and dedication make his teaching especially accessible. PerOla’s teaching style invites questions and discussion, while awakening the student’s interest and deepening their understanding of the subject area. Always striving to see and understand the students’ needs has meant that his teaching in quantitative methods is greatly appreciated by the students. His teaching style features a clear structure within which the students are given the opportunity to develop and consolidate their knowledge in quantitative methods through active learning, reflection, and meaningful participation.

Medicine and Pharmacy

Senior Lecturer Karin Svensberg at the Department of Pharmacy has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award in the area of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Due to her strong engagement, Karin Svensberg has played a crucial role in the creation of authentic training pharmacies at Uppsala Biomedical Centre (BMC) where, throughout their studies, students now get the opportunity to practise their skills in a safe environment based on realistic cases to help train them for their future professional lives. She skilfully integrates her research and experience from outpatient care pharmacies into her teaching. Karin’s ability to develop course content and practical exercises around patient-centred drug communication and pharmaceutical care helps students acquire a clearer picture of their upcoming role as professionals.

Mathematics, Science and Technology

Senior Lecturer Anders Thapper at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award in the area of Mathematics, Science and Technology.

Based on his deep-seated interest in chemistry and his enthusiasm for helping students to understand, Anders Thapper has created a variety of stimulating and engaging methods for learning. Along with plenty of empathy, he treats all students with great respect and makes himself readily available. Through his positive attitude, Anders creates an inclusive and inspiring learning environment. When he explains complex relationships, it’s imbued with his capacity to motivate and inspire. Anders’ teaching practice is evidence of an excellent ability to adapt the content to the group’s unique abilities.

Anders Berndt