Johanna Höffken elected Dutch teacher of the year
Frank Baaijens: "Johanna is a role model par excellence for our students, and a source of inspiration for everyone."
The annual election of the best Dutch lecturer is won this year by university lecturer Johanna Höffken of Eindhoven University of Technology. She wins a scholarship of 25.000 euro, to be spent on educational innovation. Moreover, she gets an 'honorary seat' on the board of the Comenius network focused on innovations in education. The election is an initiative of the ‘Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg’ (ISO), and is organized for the sixth time. Minister of Education, Culture and Science Ingrid van Engelshoven announced the winner today in a congratulatory video.
It is the first time since the election is held that a teacher from TU/e wins the title. Höffken is very happy and honoured to receive this prize. "I am very much looking forward to dedicate myself to the opportunities that this appreciation brings with it! Thank you very much!"
Rector Magnificus of the TU/e Frank Baaijens: "I am very happy and proud that Johanna Höffken receives this award. She is enormously enthusiastic, passionate and innovative in her teaching, and last year she already won the prize of best TU/e lecturer of the bachelor's programs. Johanna is a role model par excellence for our students, and a source of inspiration for everyone."
Improving the world through education
Johanna Höffken teaches Innovation Sciences. She works daily with students on responsible innovation in a global context. She does this through her learning line ‘Responsible Innovation for the World', in which students work closely together with companies that are looking for solutions for the future.
The jury report is undividedly enthusiastic about Höffken’s work: "The passion and enthusiasm with which Johanna talks about how she shapes her education had a contagious effect on the jury. It is remarkable how Johanna innovatively connects theories with practice and allows transdisciplinary groups of students to bring out the best in each other. In addition to her great intentions to make the world a little better, she also has sharp ideas about how to apply and experiment with concrete teaching methods. Her method of working can be applied within both university and college education. In short: Johanna is an excellent teacher in all aspects of the profession and has therefore been elected Teacher of the Year 2020."
Digital teaching methods
The chairman of ISO, Dahran Çoban, is also happy with Höffken as the winner: "Good teachers are essential for good education. Johanna Höffken is the example of an instructor who enthusiastically shapes education in all its facets."
Minster van Engelshoven points out in the video that good and flexible teachers are indispensable in this day and age. Çoban also says: "It is fantastic to see how motivated instructors are committed to giving students the opportunity to bring out the best in themselves by their teaching. Especially in these times when we can see that (digital) contact between students and instructors is essential for good education."
Honorary chair
In addition to an education grant of 25,000 euros, Höffken will also receive a 'seat of honour' on the board of the Comenius network for a year. This is where the winners of Comenius grants come together to share experiences and knowledge about education and educational innovation. Moreover, the network is an interlocutor of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.