Congratulations to Dr Uttara Shahani, who has won a 2025 Teaching Excellence Award in the Early Career Strand.
Dr Shahani has has made significant contributions to the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies through her innovative and engaging teaching methods. Her approach to teaching archival research is particularly noteworthy, as she organises and leads trips to the National Archives at Kew and the Living Refugee Archives at the University of East London, providing students with hands-on experience in handling primary sources.
Her use of primary sources and film in her lectures and seminars on the long history of forced migration not only enthuses students but also enhances their understanding of complex historical and contemporary issues. Her teaching method embodies the flipped classroom approach which includes pre-recorded lectures followed by in-person seminars, allows for a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter.
Additionally, she employs a variety of innovative resources, such as podcasts, documentaries, interactive maps, and songs, to make her courses more accessible and engaging.
Students reported that her teaching acted as a catalyst for connecting their understanding across a number of different disciplines.
'We tackle difficult and complex histories in class, but I always look forward to discussions with my fantastic students', Dr Shhani said. 'They frequently compel me to reassess how I approach research and teaching. I thank them for our shared learning and the faculty and staff at the RSC for fostering a highly supportive teaching environment.'
The Teaching Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional contributions to education and teaching practices by colleagues across the University's Social Science Division at all career stages.
The 2025 awards are presented in three categories:
- Individual Awards for Academic Staff
- Individual Awards for Academic Staff (Early Career Strand)
- Achievement Award for Sustained Commitment to Education