Prizes for Teaching Excellence
Excellent teaching deserves recognition – and this year three outstanding lecturers at the University of Greifswald received the due praise. A jury selected this year’s three prizewinners from a total of 230 nominations submitted by the students.
Dr. Simone Venz from the Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology excelled with her student-oriented teaching. In the reasons for their nomination of Dr. Venz, students wrote: “Simone Venz embodies everything that defines excellent teaching: subject expertise, teaching prowess, openness for feedback and, last but not least, a tangible passion for imparting knowledge.”
She therefore received the Prize for Teaching Excellence in the category student-oriented teaching.
Dr. Julius Krause from the Institute of Pharmacy received the Prize for Teaching Excellence for his reflective and feedback-based teaching. Together with his team, he used student feedback to rearrange the practical lab course in pharmaceutical technology in the 6th semester of pharmacy degrees. The students praised that “his remarkable efforts for enhancement, improved transparency and a respectful exchange with students are exemplary for how feedback-based teaching can work – making Julius Krause a very worthy recipient of the prize in this category.”
Dr. Max Georg Hügel from the Department of Law/Public Law received the Prize for Teaching Excellence for his excellent supervision of students. He makes difficult content easy to understand, promotes sustainable learning methods and is always approachable – whether in the seminar room or via email. Students appreciate his open, supportive style. They emphasised: “Thanks to his broad range of offers, Max Georg Hügel is the perfect point of contact throughout the course of our studies. From subject knowledge in public law, to methodology, strategies, and practical tips, it is clearly important to him that his students learn something.”
The jury comprises students from all five faculties, the Student Pro-Rector, the Pro-Rector for Teaching, the AStA Officer for Studies and Teaching, and a representative from the Advisory Board for University Didactics & Digital Teaching. Each prizewinner receives 2,000 euros – but above all the gratitude and recognition of the students.
DAAD Prize
This year’s DAAD Prize for the excellent achievements of an international student was awarded to Yaiza Otero, a master's student in German Literary Studies. With this prize, the University honours not only her excellent academic achievements, but also her impressive social and intercultural engagement on campus and beyond. Her master’s dissertation approaches the depiction of abortion and narrated silence in German contemporary literature – a topic that is yet to have seen much research and to which she brings new insights through her perspective. Yaiza Otero has shown a great deal of commitment for the university community, e.g. as a “Local Buddy” at the International Office, through the organisation of a Stammtisch (regulars’ table) for master's students in literary studies, as well as in the forum “Feminism and Pop Culture”, activities in which she constantly contributes intercultural and academic perspectives. The prize money amounts to € 1000.
Sustainability Prize
The University of Greifswald’s Sustainability Prize 2025 was awarded to Marie Narjes for her bachelor's dissertation in the degree course Environmental Sciences. Ms. Narjes impressed the jury with the diverse range of methodology she adopted and the precise scientific analysis in her pilot study on potential energy savings through the reduction of energy consumption in university buildings. Special praise should be given to the practical benefits for climate protection at the University of Greifswald. The dissertation, which received the highest grade, combines an experiment, a survey and data-based evaluation and is thus a text-book example of the interdisciplinary training in the degree course. The prize money amounts to € 500.
Climate-Friendly Facility
This year’s Climate-Friendly Facility award goes to the Environmental Physics working group. The award is presented for their project on collecting and processing the energy consumption data of university buildings – a project that creates exemplary synergies between facility management, teaching, and research. The technical interfaces that have been developed can be used for a broad range of applications and thanks to the transparent depiction of electricity, heating and water consumption, provide an important contribution in improving the university’s carbon footprint. The prize money amounts to € 2000.
Gender Equality Officer receives deserved send-off
During this year’s Dies academicus, Ruth Terodde, Central Gender Equality Officer at the University of Greifswald, received a worthy send-off into retirement. When Ruth Terodde took over the office of Central Gender Equality Officer back in 2013, the proportion of female professors was 12.5 %. Today, it is approximately 30 %. “That is not only a number, it’s a statement. And the result of assertiveness, perseverance and negotiation skills,” according to Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel. “With “KarriereWegeMentoring”, the Female Professor Programme III and later PP 2030, Ruth Terodde laid the foundation for improving the visibility of women in science, providing sufficient support – and specifically helping them to climb the career ladder.”
Contact at the University of Greifswald
Dr. Elisabeth Böker
Press Officer
University Communications
Domstraße 11, Entrance 1, 17489 Greifswald
Tel: +49 3834 420 1150
pressestelleuni-greifswaldde