The recipients of the awards were Prof. Dr. Lilian Weber (Department of Human Sciences), Prof. Dr. Helena Olfert (Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies), and Noah Kahmen (Department of Cultural and Social Sciences). 

First prize in the Hans Mühlenhoff Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching is endowed with 2,500 euros, second prize with 1,500 euros, and third prize with 1,000 euros.

“Teaching thrives on creativity and a diversity of ideas, as well as on a lively and respectful exchange between faculty and students,” said Prof. Dr. Jochen Oltmer, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Teaching, during a ceremony at the university’s Botanical Garden. “So who better to judge successful teaching than the students themselves? That is why it has been established practice for years that they are the ones who nominate our faculty members for these awards.” 

In the end, 23 names were on the list, and a student jury, together with the University of Osnabrück’s Standing Working Group on Teaching, made the final decision. 

First place went to Prof. Dr. Lilian Weber, who has held the “Cognitive Modeling” professorship at the University of Osnabrück since August 2025. “From our perspective, she embodies many of the qualities that characterize outstanding academic teaching: up-to-date research, didactic clarity, the promotion of independent thinking, and an exceptional ability to inspire students to engage in research and actively involve them in scientific processes,” according to the students’ statement explaining their nomination. As an outstanding example, the students cite the establishment of a laboratory for transcranial focused ultrasound research: “The fact that Prof. Dr. Weber does not view the establishment of such a laboratory solely as a research project, but actively integrates it into her teaching, demonstrates her high standards for academic education.”

Second prize went to Prof. Dr. Helena Olfert, who has held the Chair of German as a Second Language (DaZ) and Language Education at the University of Osnabrück since 2024. In addition to the clear and well-thought-out structure of her courses, the students praised the fact that course content is consistently linked to current social and educational policy developments, particularly in the areas of migration, multilingualism, and education. “Particularly noteworthy is the project seminar ‘Language Learning Assistance Osnabrück,’ in which students actively design DaZ lessons at schools while receiving intensive guidance from Prof. Dr. Olfert,” the students said.

Third place this year went to Noah Kahmen, a lecturer at the Institute of Geography. The students were particularly impressed by his seminars on geography didactics. As an example, they cited, among others, the seminar “Game-Based Learning in Geography Classes,” in which students analyzed the importance of games in the classroom and developed their own educational games. “In general, Mr. Kahmen’s enthusiasm for his subject is evident in his seminars as well,” the students said. 

In addition to the award winners, the following were nominated: Prof. Dr. Martin Belz, Department of Education and Cultural Studies; Stewart Campbell, Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies; Kim Diestelhorst, Department of Economics; Prof. Dr. Valeriya Dinger, Department of Economics; Prof. Dr. Sophie Ellsäßer, Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies; Elisa Orta Galindo, Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies; Prof. Dr. Thomas Gaube, Department of Economics; Mira Elham Hazzaa, Department of Cultural and Social Sciences; Prof. Dr. Olav Krämer, Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies; Dr. Janina Krause, Department of Human Sciences; Jennifer Molitor, Department of Human Sciences; Prof. Dr. Rainer Mühlhoff, Department of Human Sciences; Prof. Dr. Jan Oster, Department of Law; Dr. Jan Pollex, Department of Cultural and Social Sciences; Zoe Rehme, Department of Human Sciences; Dr. Lena Schmeiduch, Department of Human Sciences; Prof. Dr. Steffie Schmidt, Department of Education and Cultural Studies; Prof. Dr. Thomas Staufenbiel, Department of Human Sciences; Dr. Jessica Wißmann, Department of Linguistics and Literature; Alicia Wittwer, Department of Economics.

Further information for the media:
Cornelia Achenbach, University of Osnabrück
Communications and Marketing

  cornelia.achenbach@uni-osnabrueck.de