Excellence in Teaching Award, Young Investigators Award and Publication Award

With the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Young Investigators Award and the Publication Award, the University recognises outstanding achievements in teaching and research. These awards highlight excellence and dedication across both fields, honouring lecturers who inspire and support their students in lasting ways, as well as early-career researchers whose innovative approaches and exceptional scholarly achievements make a significant contribution to academic advancement.

  • Excellence in Teaching Award

    The teaching awards are designed to recognise excellence in teaching in all its dimensions, encompassing the application of key pedagogical principles such as competence-oriented learning and innovative teaching and learning methods, whether delivered online, in person or in hybrid formats.

    The award has been presented since the 2007/08 academic year to recognise outstanding and innovative courses. Award-winning courses are distinguished, among other things, by their application of core pedagogical principles, including learning outcome- and competence-oriented teaching, the active involvement of students, the coherent didactic design and provision of course content, the creative use of e-learning tools, and regular communication with and effective support for students.

    In line with the University’s commitment to inclusive and equitable participation in higher education, particular emphasis has been placed on diversity-sensitive teaching since the 2021/22 academic year. Nominated courses are encouraged to take account of the diverse backgrounds and life circumstances of underrepresented or disadvantaged students and to implement appropriate measures, such as referring students to support services offered by the relevant University departments, using gender-inclusive and diversity-conscious language, and providing alternative forms of assessment where appropriate.

    Distance Teaching Award (2020–2021)

    As a result of the transition to remote teaching necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Excellence in Teaching Award was presented as a special award, the Distance Teaching Award, during the summer semester of 2020 and the 2020/21 academic year.

    This award recognised courses that successfully adapted to distance learning while maintaining the defined learning outcomes and expected student workload. Despite the challenging circumstances, award recipients ensured high-quality communication with students and continued to provide excellent academic support. In addition, innovative, practical and context-appropriate approaches to assessment and evaluation were implemented effectively.

  • Young Investigators Award

    For several years, the University of Salzburg has honoured the best doctoral research projects at the University through the Young Investigators Award. The award is intended to support and promote early-career researchers. Submissions may be made in six thematic categories: Natural and Life Sciences, Law, Humanities, Data and Analytical Sciences, Philosophy and Theology, and Social Sciences. Prize winners receive an award of €300 for first place, €200 for second place and €100 for third place.

    The six first-place recipients present their projects to the audience in a series of short presentations. A live audience vote then determines the winner of the Audience Award for the best presentation.

  • Publication Award

    Following the Kurt Zopf Award, which was awarded annually from 2011 to 2023, the University of Salzburg is now able, thanks to the generous bequest of Dieter Zwiauer, to confer the Publication Award, endowed with €15,000, to members of the University.

    In keeping with the aims of its predecessor, this award recognises outstanding and internationally acclaimed scholarly publications by established researchers at the University and seeks to support the continued advancement of their academic careers at the University of Salzburg.

Press Releases and Photos

Below you will find press releases as well as links to our Flickr photo albums, providing further information and visual impressions of the respective events.