Excellent teaching makes a significant contribution to a successful course of study. Through the annual teaching awards, the Rectorate of the University of Bonn and the Department of Economics recognize instructors who inspire, support, and contribute to the academic success of their students in exceptional ways.
To reflect the different requirements of bachelor's and master's courses, as well as compulsory and elective courses, the teaching awards are presented in four categories. One award is conferred by the Rectorate of the University of Bonn, while the remaining three are awarded by the Department of Economics. The awards are based on the results of the student course evaluations from the Summer Semester 2025 and the Winter Semester 2025/26.
For the 2025/26 academic year, Julia Mink, Teodora Boneva, Dominik Liebl, and Jan Hendrik Scherer are being honored for their outstanding teaching achievements.
Category Bachelor Compulsory Subjects (Rectorate Teaching Award)
The award was presented to Julia Mink for her course “Econometrics”, taught in the Winter Semester 2025/26.
Students particularly appreciate Julia Mink’s ability to explain even challenging econometric concepts in a clear and accessible way. With great patience, she addresses questions, encourages active participation, and ensures that students engage deeply with the material. The carefully prepared teaching materials and the clear structure of the course further support students’ learning success. Many students also highlight her personal approach and the trusting learning environment she creates, which make learning enjoyable and help even complex topics become easier to understand.
Category Bachelor Elective Classes (Teaching Award of the Department of Economics)
The award was presented to Teodora Boneva for her course “Using Data to Address Societal Challenges”, taught in the Summer Semester 2025.
Professor Boneva combines in-depth, practice-oriented research examples with socially relevant questions in her teaching. Students particularly appreciate the integration of theory and real-world applications within the potential outcomes framework, which provides an accessible and practical introduction to empirical research. In addition to the course’s academic rigor, her enthusiasm for the subject matter and her motivating teaching style are defining features of the class. Many students describe it as one of the most interesting and up-to-date courses of their studies. The detailed presentation of course content and the practical insights into the design and conduct of scientific research are also especially valued.
Category: Master Basic Module (Teaching Award of the Department of Economics)
The award was presented to Dominik Liebl for his course “Econometrics”, taught in the Winter Semester 2025/26.
Students particularly highlight the enthusiasm, energy, and passion with which Dominik Liebl conveys both his subject matter and his teaching. His ability to explain complex concepts with precision and to make them tangible through real-world examples and insights from his own research practice contributes significantly to the success of the course. The clearly structured lectures, carefully prepared materials, and the effective use of eWhiteboard technology and Zoom create excellent conditions for lasting learning. In addition, his patience, sense of humor, and openness to questions foster a learning environment that students greatly appreciate. With this award, Dominik Liebl is being recognized for his outstanding teaching for the second consecutive year.
Category Master Advanced Module (Teaching Award of the Departement of Economics)
The award was presented to Jan Hendrik Scherer for his course “Time Series Econometrics”, taught in the Winter Semester 2025/26.
Students particularly appreciate Jan Hendrik Scherer’s ability to teach challenging concepts in probability theory and econometrics with both great academic depth and exceptional clarity. Through precise explanations and illustrative examples, he succeeds in making even complex theoretical concepts accessible and easy to follow. Students especially value the clear and well-structured presentation of the material, the effective integration of theory and application, and the carefully designed teaching materials and problem sets. The course’s high academic quality, the thoughtful delivery of the content, and the instructor’s strong commitment contribute to many students regarding it as one of the best courses at the University of Bonn.
We congratulate all award recipients on this distinction and thank them for their outstanding commitment to teaching excellence.