Teaching Awards Presented by the Center for University Pedagogy
Four faculty members at RPTU in Landau were awarded the 2025 Teaching Award by the Center for University Didactics (HDA). The award recognizes their exceptional commitment to innovative, student-centered, and practice-oriented teaching. The award ceremony took place on Teaching Day, October 9, 2025.
The jury evaluated the submitted teaching concepts based on criteria such as sustainable learning success, student motivation, practical relevance, and degree of innovation. The award-winning courses impressively demonstrate the diversity and creativity of teaching at RPTU.
The winners of the 2025 Teaching Award are:
Dr. Michael Bahn (Institute of German Studies)
Seminar “The Theatrical Landau – Radio Play Production”
Through this voluntary elective course, Michael Bahn combines media practice, creativity, and literary reflection. In cooperation with the Electrical and Information Technology degree program in Kaiserslautern, students produce their own radio plays—from script development and sound editing in a professional studio to publication in print and online formats. The seminar offers hands-on insights into radio drama production, fosters teamwork and independence, and at the same time creates space for artistic expression. Topics such as “Library” (Winter Semester 2024/25) or “Spooky Christmas” (Summer Semester 2025) demonstrate the diversity and originality of the resulting productions. The jury recognized the course’s high level of motivation, creativity, and lasting impact.
Tini Katz, M.Sc. (Environmental Psychology Research Group)
“Case Study Group 2: Mountain Forest Project – We Need Nature” (Bachelor’s Program in Human and Environmental Studies)
Tini Katz’s teaching concept combines scientific work with practical experience in nature. In cooperation with the Bergwaldprojekt e.V. association, students developed their own research questions centered on the theme of “awareness of our dependence on nature” and went through the entire research process—from planning and data collection to presentation at a conference within the degree program. Particularly innovative was the dual role reversal: Each group designed a study in which the other group participated. This approach specifically fostered a change in perspective, personal responsibility, and self-efficacy. The jury praised the successful combination of research, practical application, and personal experience as exemplary of modern, student-centered teaching.
Dragan Miladinovic (Institute of German Studies)
Block Seminar “Staging Language Education: Performative Approaches to the Development and Promotion of Language Action Competencies”
In his block seminar, Dragan Miladinovic combines language didactics with performative methods from theater education. Students actively engage with issues of language development and multilingualism by taking on roles, developing character biographies, and staging language-teaching topics. By learning with “head, heart, hands, and feet,” a lively, trusting learning atmosphere emerges that strengthens both motivation and reflection. The jury highlighted the holistic approach and the instructor’s authentic teaching style as key factors in the concept’s success.
Dr. Daniel Callo-Concha (Institute for Environmental Sciences)
Seminar “Complex Systems Analysis, an Introduction”
In his introductory course, Daniel Callo-Concha teaches the fundamentals and tools of systems thinking to help students understand complex ecological and social interrelationships. In addition to theoretical input, students work in teams on real-world problems—from analysis and modeling to concrete proposals for intervention. Innovative elements such as rotating group leadership, iterative feedback, and public final presentations foster initiative and practical skills. The jury highlighted the course’s didactic clarity, practical relevance, and high level of interactivity, noting that it places sustainability at the center not only thematically but also methodologically.
Teaching Award from the Center for Teacher Education (ZfL)
Dr. Janin Aadam was also honored with the Teaching Award from the Center for Teacher Education (ZfL) at RPTU in Landau.
Diversity in Teaching—A Shared Approach
Despite their different areas of study, the award recipients are united by a shared conviction: learning is most successful when students are actively, self-directed, and purposefully engaged. Whether it’s radio play production, the Mountain Forest Project, performative language education, or systems analysis—all of these approaches are characterized by a strong student-centered focus, creative methods, and lasting learning outcomes. In this way, they make a valuable contribution to the further development of the teaching culture at RPTU.
Teaching Award for Long-Term Service in Teaching
In addition to the annual awards for outstanding teaching concepts, the Center for University Didactics once again presented the Teaching Award for Long-Term Service in Teaching this year:
With this honor, Prof. Dr. Werner Sesselmeier from the Institute for Social Sciences in the Department of Cultural and Social Sciences at the Landau Campus was recognized in the winter semester of 2025/26 for his long-standing commitment to teaching Business Studies and Economics.
For many years, Werner Sesselmeier has shaped teaching at RPTU with great dedication, professional expertise, and a special knack for conveying economic concepts. Through his ongoing dedication, he has made a decisive contribution to inspiring students’ enthusiasm for issues related to Business Studies and Economics and encouraging them to think critically and independently.
The Center for Teaching and Learning extends its heartfelt congratulations to all award recipients—and thanks them for their exceptional dedication to teaching.