Role that makes the pedagogical work visible

For SLU, the appointment of excellent teachers is an opportunity to showcase and reward pedagogical skill. It provides quality assurance both for the university, but also at the departmental and educational level and, of course, also for the individual teacher. 

- For me personally, one of the values ​​is that I have gained a deeper understanding of my own pedagogical work. In the application, you must structure your pedagogical work, which creates new thoughts and reflections on what you do and how you meet the students. The dialogue is important to reflect on in order to create the teaching climate that you want to achieve, says Petra.

Activities during the year

All excellent teachers were invited to hold a session at the 2021 education conference for the whole of SLU, which Petra saw as both valuable and enriching.

During 2020 – 2021, Petra has also run the SLU Landscape Teachers' Forum together with her colleagues Anna Maria Pálsdóttir (AEM) and Emma Butler (SOL). They have arranged a number of supportive activities and workshops. Something that has probably been extra important during the pandemic when the teaching situation changed radically at the same time as the opportunities for collegial support and context were minimized.

Excellent teachers at LAPF

With Petra's award, the Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management has a total of three excellent teachers. Åsa Bensch and Maria Kylin have already held the title. Petra believes that in their role they work a little too much without notice and that they could certainly be better utilized. For example, she would like to see some kind of mentoring program.

- When you are a new teacher at a university, your knowledge of the subject is often based more on the pedagogy itself. You can encounter many difficulties where a mentor could be a great support. The mentors do not only have to be excellent teachers, but the program should perhaps be more comprehensive for the entire SLU, she says.

What would she say to those who are thinking about applying for excellent teacher?

- I try to encourage my colleagues to apply. It is a demanding, but incredibly enriching process. You get a deeper understanding of your own pedagogical action, which can be of great benefit in future course development, concludes Petra.