In this post, Callum Paterson introduces the winners of our final category from the Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s Teaching Awards 2025. This is the final blog post in a series celebrating 2025 Teaching Award winners. Callum is the Academic Engagement & Policy Coordinator within the Student Voice team at the Students’ Association.
Introduction
As mentioned in my first blog post, we received 1,774 nominations across eleven categories in this year’s Teaching Awards. The winners this series has introduced so far are wholly chosen by students – from submitting the nominations, reviewing and scoring long-listed nominations, to the panel of Elected Representatives who deliberate and choose our winners.
Our twelfth, and final, category is different. This one is chosen by our Sabbatical Officers. The Sabbatical Officers Special Recognition Award was introduced this year to celebrate a member of our community who has done something exceptional – whether in teaching, support, or somewhere else.
When I met with the Sabbatical Officers to choose their winner, a lot of ideas were shared. Some thought they should choose someone who got the highest number of nominations overall, others thought we should consider some of the extremely long and detailed nominations which were truly heartfelt and spoke to the bond between that member of staff and the student who nominated them, and it was even suggested that they consider giving this Award to entire Schools who have ‘punched above their weight’ in these Awards. In the end, though, the team had to choose just one winner.
Our winner
The winner of this award has been described in their nominations this year as “the kindest and friendliest member of staff” and “someone who so clearly cares for their students and their work”.
Over the 16 years our Teaching Awards have been running, they have amassed a staggering 173 nominations celebrating their teaching, innovation, course organisation, exceptional feedback, student support, and their years as a brilliant personal tutor.
In their teaching, we’ve heard about lectures coming alive through interactive demonstrations, multimedia resources, and a unique blend of humour and music, fostering an inclusive learning environment where complex concepts become accessible to all.
When it comes to student support, students have praised their dedication to inclusivity. Their students felt that they were always able to ask for help and knew they would been seen and heard. This inclusive approach has been particularly felt by international students. Our winner goes the extra mile in creating a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates diversity, and they take time to understand the unique challenges faced by students from different backgrounds, and provide tailored support to help them feel part of our community, both academically and socially.
For his passion, commitment to education, and outstanding contributions to student support for international students, the winner of the Sabbatical Officers’ Special Recognition Award 2025 is Tom Bruce, from the School of Engineering.
Quite aptly, Tom was abroad to meet with some of our incoming international students, which meant he couldn’t join us for the ceremony. His long time colleague and friend, Stephen Warrington, accepted Tom’s award on his behalf.
Congratulations, Tom! The work you have put in since you joined the University has shone through in the many, many nominations you have received from your students since these Awards were created. We hope you are incredibly proud of your achievements, and the impact you have had on your students.
Thank you for following this series with me, and we hope to see some of you reading this pop up in our nominations next year!
Callum Paterson
Callum Paterson is the Academic Engagement & Policy Coordinator within the Student Voice team at the Students’ Association. Alongside coordinating the Teaching Awards, he works with Programme and School Representatives as well as the Vice President Education, supporting and empowering them to make their voices heard on the issues that matter most to them,
