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At the Education Fair on Thursday 4 March, Lotte Henrichs won the award for Utrecht University’s Lecturer of the Year. Henrichs, a lecturer in Educational Sciences and in the Academic Teacher Training for Primary Education (ALPO), is described by her students as someone who builds bridges: between people, between academic research and her own educational practice and between the University and primary schools in the region.

Henrichs awaited the announcement of the winner of the 2021 Lecturer Awards in room 1636 of the University Hall. ‘The nominees sat at large round tables, well away from each other, watching and listening to jury chair Ronald Bleys, who was talking about the award in the Auditorium of the University Hall.’ When Bleys declared her the winner, Henrichs donned her face mask and rushed to the Auditorium to listen to the jury report.

Noticed and acknowledged

The jury praised Henrichs for the way she creates connections between the University and society and how she prepares her students for life after graduation. Henrichs says, ‘I was incredibly happy with the jury report. I am very committed to connecting the University with schools in the city. Take, for instance, our "education research workshop", . Through this consortium, we aim to strengthen the research culture at primary schools in the city by working closely together. It is really wonderful that our efforts in building that bridge have been noticed and acknowledged.’

They all applauded, and some colleagues took turns to congratulate me. It made me feel warm all over

Applause

Of course, the ceremony for the 2021 Lecturer Awards was not like usual. Nevertheless, the event was very festive for Henrichs. ‘After the announcement, the nominees were allowed to have a drink at a safe distance from each other in room 1636. And at 8 o’clock that evening, my colleagues from Educational Sciences organised a Teams meeting. Everyone had chosen a cheerful background. They all applauded, and some colleagues took turns to congratulate me. It made me feel warm all over.’

VOCUS

The lecturers competing for the award are nominated by their study societies. Henrichs was nominated by Dagmar Bon and Brigitte Kok, study content coordinator at VOCUS study society.
In addition to Henrichs, Luciel van Vuuren, lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, also won. She was presented with the 2021 Young Lecturer of the Year award.