This spring, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine (VU MF) voted for the best lecturer(s) in each study programme. The students of the faculty’s Bachelor’s, Integrated, Master’s and the English taught programmes were invited to take part in a survey, to nominate which lecturer they felt should be chosen as the best.
We are delighted with the results of this year’s Best Lecturer(s) competition and invite you to get to know the celebrated lecturers and professors a little better. This time, we interviewed the Master’s lecturers. We asked them to share how they feel about receiving the award, to reveal what for them makes a good lecturer, and to answer what, in their view, makes a good student.
Assoc. Prof. Marija Jakubauskienė / © MF archive
Marija Jakubauskienė (voted the Best Lecturer for the Art Therapy study programme)
“The award for Best Lecturer was indeed a very pleasant surprise and a gift for me! I feel grateful to the students who appreciated my courses. At the same time, this nomination is a confirmation that my teaching style based on mentoring, cooperation and respect is meaningful and responds to the needs of students,” said Dr Jakubauskienė, Associate Professor for the Art Therapy study programme. According to her, the best lecturer is the one who genuinely cares about the student, whose work ethic shapes the values of the students and who is able to create a more personal academic relationship, by sharing their professional experience and professional ‘secrets’. “I have been very lucky because at different stages of my studies, both at Vilnius University and at others where I had the opportunity to study, I met a number of excellent lecturers – wonderful personalities, inspiring scientists and professionals in their field, who have shaped the way I think about the role of a lecturer in academics, the work of a lecturer, and the style of teaching and academic communication. Of course, the most memorable ones are those professors (now colleagues) who ‘discovered’ me, and who encouraged and supported my scientific pursuits”. When asked what it takes to be a good student, Dr Jakubauskienė highlighted: motivation, strong listening skills and proactivity. “We, the lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, are very lucky, because most of the students here are like that!” she enthused.
Oksana Misiųnienė / © MF archive
Oksana Misiūnienė (voted the Best Lecturer for the Advanced Nursing Practice Programme)
“What does it mean to me to be voted Best Lecturer? It is the greatest accolade you can receive from your students!” said Dr Misiūnienė, who teaches in the Advanced Nursing Practice Master’s degree programme. Her mother was the best ‘teacher’ in her own life. “Throughout her professional life, she was a true expert in her field, always doing something, learning, working, accumulating knowledge, improving her practical skills, and developing various teaching and learning methodologies. I still remember my mother’s creative workshops when I was a child: drawing all kinds of cards, diagrams, posters, and organising all kinds of methodological materials,” she recalled. When asked what makes a good student for her, she replied: “First and foremost, a student who is motivated, shows interest in the subject, seeks new knowledge and practical skills, and whose aim is not just to get a good grade”. She explained she is always happy that, together with her students, she is able to overcome fears and doubts and to boldly take on new ideas and solutions.
Dr. Jelena Stanislavovienė / © MF archive
Jelena Stanislavovienė (voted the Best Lecturer in the Public Health Studies programme)
“It was a great pleasure to be chosen as the Best Lecturer! I am very grateful to my students! It is a confirmation that the teaching methods I use are appropriate and I can develop them further,” said Dr Stanislavovienė, who teaches in the Public Health Studies Programme. According to her, a good lecturer is first and foremost consistent, able to build a relationship with students, motivated and, of course, loves the subject they teach. “From my own studies, I would like to mention Associate Professor Arūnas Barkas, Dr Algimantas Stašinskas, as well as Associate Professor Algimantas Urbelis, a lecturer in occupational health, who I had the honour of replacing at the faculty before his retirement. I am extremely grateful to him for everything! For sharing his knowledge and experience, lectures, literature, and for all the consultations, even after his retirement”. When asked what makes a good student for her, Dr Stanislavovienė replied: “Probably the best thing for me is to work with open, sociable and active students. But also, with those who are more closed or seem less interested, I always try to create a connection, to provoke interest from them. It’s always the students who come back after a longer break who stand out – with them the relationship is more about partnership – sharing knowledge and experience, which is very exciting”. According to the lecturer, it is always great when students trust their lecturers, feel supported and engaged, and find meaning in the classes.
Assoc. Prof. Rėda Matuzevičienė / © MF archive
Rėda Matuzevičienė (voted the Best Lecturer in the Medical Biology study programme)
“The voted the Best Lecturer is recognition of my long and consistent work. It is a very positive and motivating feeling! I always try to teach my subject in the same way as I was taught by my teachers, from whom I tried to take as much knowledge and experience as possible and apply it in my work. I could mention more than one such teacher in my life! I have had the privilege of learning from the best. They include Professor Zita Aušrelė Kučinskienė, Dr Maisa Gubanova, Prof. Kenneth McClatchey, Dr Serhan Alkan, Prof. Geir Tjonnfjord and Prof. Tor-Arne Hagve. I hope that I have lived up to their expectations and trust that, following their good examples, I am successfully disseminating the knowledge of my beloved subject – laboratory haematology – to my students”, said Dr Matuzevičienė, Associate Professor in the Medical Biology programme, when sharing her excitement after the award. We asked her what makes a good student, and she replied: “A good student is first and foremost curious and not afraid to ask questions. I also appreciate students who see not only themselves, but also consider others and are sensitive to their needs”.
--
Due to low student turnout, not all Masters programmes were able to select lecturers for these awards.