The Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) awarded this year’s Best International Teacher Award to Paul Ilsley and Alfonso Padilla. The ceremony for the unusual dual winners took place at the Rector’s international reception on 27 October.

Several years ago the student union made a decision to emphasise the importance of quality teaching for international students. Establishing the prize of Best International Teacher was one method of drawing attention to the importance of international students and teachers. The award is granted by the HYY Board each year to a lecturer or supervisor who teaches in a language other than Finnish or Swedish.

Hanna Sauli, Secretary for International Affairs, says that the union asked for nominations and detailed justification from both international and Finnish students. This year two candidates caught the eye of the Board. “Two were outstanding,” says Sauli. “Each of them was suggested many times, and the arguments for each were very convincing. It would have been arbitrary to only choose one, so we made an exception this year by having two winners.”

The American Ilsley is a Professor of Education. A group of his students portray him as a “passionate, energetic and enthusiastic teacher who has a rare talent of creating an exciting and friendly atmosphere” in the classroom. The union cites him as a master of a variety of teaching methods and the art of rhetoric.

Padilla is a Chilean Doctor and Docent in Musicology. His students say that he has scientific expertise and an excellent sense of humour. He is warm and appreciative towards students. Those who had him as a thesis supervisor say he is exceptionally dedicated and encouraging.

At first glance Ilsley and Padilla may seem to be very different, but Sauli says that their role as teachers sealed their victory. “So often professors are expected to concentrate on research,” she says. “But for students, teaching is the most important thing. It is for their teaching that they won the award.”

David J. Cord - HT