Dedicated, inspiring, and future-oriented – six lecturers at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) have been honored with the 2024 Teaching Award. They exemplify the high quality of teaching at LUH and demonstrate the many ways in which great teaching can be impactful and innovative.
“With over 400 nominations for 140 lecturers, the committee had the pleasure—and the challenge—of selecting the very best from an outstanding group of candidates,” said Prof. Dr. Julia Gillen, Vice President for Teaching and Learning, during the award ceremony held on Teaching Day, May 7, 2025.
The Teaching Award is presented in three categories: Motivation and Inspiration, Strategy and Transfer, and Professionalization and Teaching Culture. Each award is endowed with €2,000, intended to support further initiatives in teaching and learning. The recipients are selected by a diverse board composed of students, faculty members, staff from teaching support units, the university president (as chair), and the Vice President for Teaching and Learning (as an advisory member).
Among this year’s awardees is Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Kabelac, head of the Institute of Thermodynamics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Until March of this year, he also served as ombudsperson for good teaching and study conditions at LUH. Students particularly value his ability to integrate current societal challenges—such as the energy and heat transition—into his lectures, while fostering a respectful and supportive learning environment.
One student shared: “His lectures motivated me to learn sustainably, not just for the exams. Prof. Kabelac is always supportive during the learning process and open to questions.”
This recognition highlights the vital role of engaged and forward-thinking teaching in student success and personal development—and honors educators who make a lasting impact through their passion and innovation.
