The UAB praises teaching excellence and its impact on the learning process

According to Rector Lafuente, “educational innovation is essential to adapt teaching to new social challenges and the demands of a changing world” and stressed that the Teaching Innovation Conferences “are an example of how the University can actively help teachers to satisfactorily carry out” their work in the classroom. He went on to say, “the UAB is a benchmark in teaching quality and innovation thanks to the work of a teaching staff that is deeply involved and open to new methodologies and tools.”

The rector highlighted that the incorporation of the collective modality into the awards "reflects the dynamism and creativity of the UAB teaching staff" and thanked the work "of all the people who have participated in the organisation of the conference, as well as the support of the UAB Social Council for the Teaching Excellence Awards."

José Luis Muñoz, vice-rector for Teacher Training and Innovation, stated that "teaching is not just the transmission of knowledge but the ability to make it relevant" and claimed that these awards represent "a collective recognition of all teaching staff". Montserrat López, president of the economic commission of the UAB Social Council, highlighted the high quality of all the candidacies presented in this edition of the awards. López also recalled that the awards provide access to the Jaume Vicens Vives awards of the Government of Catalonia.

Four awardees

With regards to Marta González, the award jury highlighted a career spanning more than two decades that combines scientific rigour, pedagogical clarity, and an outstanding ability to motivate students in very diverse contexts. Her teaching is characterised by the continuous incorporation of active methodologies, continuous assessment, and innovative activities that have contributed to improving student participation and critical thinking. Her pioneering role in teaching innovation linked to artificial intelligence was also highlighted, as well as her leadership in projects such as REAFIA and participation in European initiatives. The award includes a cash prize of 4,000 euros, which will be allocated to new teaching innovation actions.

In addition, the jury awarded a second prize in this category to Santiago Tejedor Calvo, from the Faculty of Communication Studies, for his teaching that very effectively integrates digital and technological content into journalism training. His ability to link learning with real challenges in the sector, promote creativity through applied activities, and encourage a critical use of digital tools in dynamic and participatory learning environments was particularly valued.

In the new collective modality, the jury distinguished the Transnatura project, from the Faculty of Education, for a consolidated trajectory of more than a decade in which a large interdisciplinary team has been able to integrate several subjects of the bachelor's degree in Primary Education in a proposal focused on situated, experiential learning linked to the region, nature and sustainability. The jury highlighted the sustained educational impact on hundreds of students each year, the methodological solidity, the stability of the teaching coordination, the generation of transferable materials, and the constant connection with teaching innovation initiatives. The prize is endowed with 6,000 euros, which the team will allocate to new teaching innovation actions.

Also in the collective category, the project "Socialise the TFG" from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities received a secondary prize for its contribution through the systematic incorporation of the service learning methodology in the final degree projects (TFGs). The initiative links the TFG to real social needs existing in the vecinity of the UAB, promotes experiences of social commitment, and provides tools and resources that improve the design and evaluation of the projects.

Teaching transformation

On the last day of this year's Teaching Innovation Conference, Miguel Ángel Santos, professor of didactics and school organisation at the University of Malaga, gave the conference El valor de la docència universitària: el professorat com a motor de la transformació pedagògica ["The value of university teaching: teachers as drivers of pedagogical transformation"]. In his presentation, Professor Santos reflected on the importance of teaching quality and the role that each of the parties involved has in it. According to him, "learning does not occur when someone wants to teach, but when someone wants to learn. That is why it is important to know who the person who learns is". He added: "There must be an emotional disposition towards learning. The teaching profession gains authority through the love shown for what is taught and through a love for those who are taught".

He then quoted a passage from a text by American educator Don Finkel in which he narrates that, when Finkel explained to his students that he would be disappointed if he saw them “obsessed with grades, being competitive and unsupportive”, they responded that “the system asked them to get good grades”, and then the teacher proposed that they jointly seek an answer to the question: “How does the system disappoint us both?” Along these lines, Professor Santos added, in a critical tone, that he is concerned about the “system of selecting university professors: publications, communications at conferences, research, etc., but nothing related to what is specific to the profession”.

The contents of the conference have been collected in the book Innovació docent. De la idea a la pràctica en Educació Superior (VIII Jornades d’Innovació Docent - 2026) [Teaching Innovation. From idea to practice in Higher Education (VIII Teaching Innovation Conference - 2026)], published by the UAB Publications Service and available online and in open access. This volume "gives visibility to teaching innovation and quality projects, educational research and teaching innovation projects and teaching innovation groups, and contributes to the transformation of teaching and learning processes by consolidating teaching innovation as one of the strategic axes of the University".