In an effort to not only set new standards in education but also improve educational content and shine a spotlight on exceptionally well-taught courses, the JKU introduced the Kepler Awards for Innovative Teaching back in 2021. This year’s Kepler Awards were presented in recognition of educators who have conveyed course content in an exceptionally effective and original way. An expert jury consisting of one curia senate member, two JKU student union representatives, two representatives from each faculty, and members at the School of Education presented a total of 19 faculty members with awards in various categories.

The Kepler Awards focus on facilitating new concepts in the area of digital education and fostering excellence in teaching. As a result, the initiative is a useful addition to existing quality criteria, such as the Ars Docendi (a state award for excellence in education at Austria's public universities and colleges).

Category of "Innovative Education - The Kepler Award for Teaching Innovation":

Virtuell-haptische Anatomie I bzw. II

• Univ. Prof. Dr. Maren Engelhardt
• Univ. Prof. Dr. Monika Wimmer-Röll
• Dr. Mona Roesler
• Mag. Dr. Simon Neubauer
• Jan Maximilian Janssen

Berechenbarkeit und Komplexität (Introduction to Computational Complexity)

• Assoz. Univ Prof. Dr. Richard Küng
• Dr. Sibylle Möhle-Rotondi

Category of "Digitale Education - The Kepler Award for Excellence in Digital Teaching":

Mathematics for Artificial Intelligence 1-3

• Dipl. Math. Dr. Mario Ulrich

Category of "Verbesserte Lehre - Kepler Award for Feedback Culture and Continuous Improvement":

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Einführung in die Rechtswissenschaften und ihre Methoden

• Univ. Assist. Dr. Anna Obereder
• Univ. Assist. Mag. Lisa Janko
• Mag. Michael Denk,
• Assist. Prof. DI (FH) Dr.Lukas Klever, LL.M.
• Dr. Carsten Koller

The Kepler Student Award for Excellent Teaching at the Faculty of Law for the course "Bürgerliches Recht" (WS21)

• Dr. Mag. Christiane Denkmaier

The Kepler Student Award for Excellent Teaching at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business & Economics for the course "Empirisches Forschungspraktikum 2" (SS22)

• Mag. Dr. Daniel Houben

The Kepler Student Award for Excellent Teaching at the Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences for the course "Stochastische Simulation" (SS22)

• DI Dr. Irene Tubikanec

The Kepler Student Award for Excellent Teaching at the Faculty of Medicine for the course "Gender Medizin II" (SJ 21/22):

• Dr. Christina Allerstorfer
• Dr. Elisabeth Reiter

The Kepler Student Award for Excellent Teaching at the School of Education for the course "Exkursion" (SS22)

• Dr. Falko Schnicke