Congratulations Farzad Saidi! - BSc Teacher of the Year
Congratulations! How does it feel to be so appreciated?
The award came as an enormous surprise to me – but one of the most pleasant ones I have had the privilege of experiencing thus far. This was really the first full course I ever taught after my Ph.D., but the students made it incredibly easy for me to set foot in the classroom. I enjoy thinking about financial intermediation and this award suggests to me that I was able to somewhat convey my passion to the students.
What drives you (as a teacher)?
There are many ways to learn and everybody has their own style. I personally find it extremely important to bear this in mind when lecturing. I want students to focus on all the positives: learning is self-improvement – always! – irrespective of any grades or other accolades. In the classroom, I prioritize two things: First, I try to demonstrate the relevance of the topics I teach by giving an overview of cutting-edge research in a comprehensible way; second, finance is a subdiscipline of economics, and economics is full of life lessons, which I emphasize every step of the way.
What students say about Farzad
”He has successfully been inclusive to all sorts of students and "learning styles" and is eager to help students make both the course and exam into something that makes sense to them personally.”
” Extremely talented teacher. Has a good sense of humour and really knows what he is talking about.”
”Farzad has come very close to the students, care about and reach out to students in a way that goes far beyond the scopes of the course.”
”He manages communication in an excellent way by giving very clear instructions throughout the course and by being very responsive to.”
”Farzad is by far the best teacher I have ever had.”
