Students award prizes for outstanding teaching

A passion for the subject matter, clear communication, and an open, participatory learning environment are highly valued by students, as reflected in this year’s Teaching Award nominations. Since 2015, the student council stuvus has awarded the Teaching Award in recognition of outstanding achievements and exceptional dedication to teaching. This year, the nominees were primarily young faculty members who are just starting their academic careers. Alisa Winkens, a literary scholar, is one of the recipients. She has been awarded the 2025 Teaching Award in recognition of her exceptional dedication and confident presence. In addition, stuvus is awarding a Special Prize for innovative and competency-based teaching to civil engineer Prof. Silke Wieprecht. The two award recipients accepted their awards at the Deutschlandstipendium ceremony. In this interview, they share their insights into effective teaching.

Alisa Winkens: To me, good teaching means, above all, conveying knowledge in a way that inspires enthusiasm. I think it is very important to create an open and supportive atmosphere in which students are encouraged to contribute their ideas creatively and participate in discussions. I find it incredibly rewarding to pick up on different ideas from the group and explore them further together. I aim to engage students as practically and interactively as possible, enabling them to actively help shape the field of science. My goal is to encourage students to engage in independent academic work and to think critically.

Prof. Silke Wieprecht: For me, to be a good teacher you must show a passion for teaching. For me, enjoying the topics I teach and looking forward to each lecture are integral parts of my work as a lecturer. I place great importance on helping students understand the purpose and relevance of what they are learning. I also always try to relate the content to real-world problems or current developments. I also ask a lot of questions to actively engage the students and encourage them to ask questions themselves. By taking this approach, I hope to help shape young adults who navigate the world responsibly and are also willing to critically question expectations placed upon them.

Alisa Winkens: I find it inspiring to see the curiosity and team spirit the students bring to their work – for example, in our “Science to the Public” initiatives, through which we make our research accessible to the wider community. I am especially happy when I can share my enthusiasm for French literature and culture with my students and inspire them. Some even organize group trips to the theater and excursions in their free time, fostering a lively engagement with the course material even outside of the university classroom in Stuttgart.

Prof. Silke Wieprecht: Interaction – I really appreciate students who actively participate, who ask lots of questions, and who are eager to learn. I also teach the WAREM international study program, where I work with students from all over the world. Every year I learn something new and get to know a little bit more about the world. And I don't even have to travel for it.

Alisa Winkens: Digital tools open up new possibilities for research and teaching. In our VERS.AI.LLES-Talents project, for example, students in the French teaching qualification study program are developing a digital theater model in collaboration with the Department of Visual Computing. This allowed us to see how literary analysis and historical-critical source research can be combined with virtual reality and generative AI.

Prof. Silke Wieprecht: I often use artificial intelligence as a “helper” or to come up with ideas. I also encourage my students to use AI. This not only teaches them to take responsibility for their own work, but also to engage deeply with a topic. Verifying the AI's results encourages them to continue researching the topic in depth. And that is also an exciting way to learn.

About the teaching award
Since 2015, the student council stuvus has awarded an annual Teaching Prize and a Special Prize. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and exceptional dedication to academic study and teaching. All students at the University of Stuttgart are eligible to submit a nomination. stuvus submits a shortlist of candidates to the selection committee. The senate of the University of Stuttgart decides who the Teaching Prize is awarded to, based on the recommendation of the senate committee on teaching. The Teaching Award carries a prize of EUR 10,000, while the Special Award is endowed with EUR 5,000. The prize money is intended to be used to improve teaching. 

Day of Teaching and Learning 2026
The Day of Teaching and Learning will take place on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Café frei[raum] at the University of Stuttgart. The Vice Rectorate for Teaching and Continuing Education provides information on current developments and projects related to student life, teaching, and continuing education. All students and faculty members are warmly invited to share their ideas and perspectives and to get actively involved. If you would like to contribute, please submit your proposal by June 15 via email.