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Call for Applications for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities


30 October 2018

Central European University is pleased to announce the eighth annual European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities. This pioneering award, first announced in 2011 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Central European University, honors academics in the social sciences and humanities who teach at higher education institutions in the European Higher Education Area.


The Diener Prize of 5,000 euros, which accompanies the award, is made possible by a generous gift from Steven and Linda Diener in memory of Ilona Diener.

Selection Criteria for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching All candidates must have an outstanding overall teaching record. In addition, candidates must show exemplary experience in one or more of these practices:

  • applying innovative teaching methods;
  • combining theory and practice, relevance and scholarly excellence; 
  • using research elements to achieve excellence in teaching;
  • applying problem-based/problem-oriented teaching; 
  • achievements in encouragement of critical thinking; 
  • sustained commitment to teaching excellence, rather than one-off achievements.

Applications from candidates working with students from less affluent or disadvantaged social backgrounds are particularly welcome.

Eligibility Criteria To be eligible, a candidate must be:

  • an academic instructor of any rank in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities; 
  • currently teaching at a higher education institution in a member country of the European Higher Education Area.

Candidates considered in previous years are welcome to apply for this year's Award. Current and former faculty members of Central European University are not eligible.

How to Apply
Recommend a Candidate:
Students, Alumni, Faculty Colleagues, and Institutional Leaders are invited to submit a brief
Recommendation Form. Please consider recommending your best professor or a colleague whose
teaching you believe is outstanding.

Recommendations must be submitted using the Recommendation Form. We will contact your
candidate and invite them to submit a full application. No further action is required on your part.
Deadline to submit a Recommendation Form: November 18, 2018.

Faculty Members Please Apply:
Individual faculty members are strongly encouraged to apply directly to CEU for consideration for the
European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Application
materials should be sent to TeachingAward@ceu.edu
Deadline to submit full Applications: January 15, 2019.

For more information about the award and for the electronic version of the Call for Applications please visit the website of the CEU Center for Teaching and Learning or contact TeachingAward@ceu.edu.

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