The Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Award scheme was first introduced by Stirling Students' Union in 2010.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination in the 2026 RATE Awards. Each and every nomination is special and demonstrates the breadth of excellence and support which exists throughout so much of the University of Stirling. Check out the presentation below to see the winners of the 2026 RATE Awards.
Our student-led RATE Awards recognise exceptional people and teams at the University of Stirling. This is your chance to celebrate excellent teaching, academic mentors, tutors, teams, and departments across the University. The winners and honourable mentions for 2026 are:
Teacher of the Year (Arts & Humanities)
Winner: Dr Ellie Macdonald
Honourable mention: Dr Sean Kippin
Teacher of the Year (Health Sciences & Sport)
Winner: Debbie Brown
Honourable mention: Dr Tom Di Virgilio
Teacher of the Year (Natural Sciences)
Winner: Dr Neil McDonald
Honourable mention: Dr Verity Flower
Teacher of the Year (Social Sciences)
Winner: Natasha McMillan
Honourable mention: Mark Anderton
Teacher of the Year (Business School)
Winner: Dr Konstantinos Gavriilidis
Honourable mention: Dr Fairouz Mustafa
Teacher of the Year (ISC)
Winner: Deborah Wood
Honourable mention: Emma Scott-Smith
Outstanding Personal Tutor
Winner: Dr Steve Rolfe
Honourable mention: Dr Adrian Hunter
Outstanding PGR Supervisor of the Year
Winner: Dr Anna Bobak
Honourable mention: Dr Magdalena Ietswaart
Postgraduate Research Student Teacher of the Year
Winner: Mariana Canto Sobral
Honourable mention: Emilia Vassiliades
Outstanding Professional Services and Support Staff of the Year
Winner: Pauline Lockie
Honourable mention: Louise Dixon
Outstanding University Team, Service or Department
Winner: Library & Information Services
Honourable mention: University of Stirling Collections
Outstanding Programme
Winner: MSc/LLM Human Rights & Diplomacy
Honourable mention: BSc Paramedic Science
Outstanding Feedback or Assessment
Winner: Alan Somerville
Honourable mention: Dr Brad Duthie
Outstanding Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Social Justice
Winner: Dr Elaine Cameron
Honourable mention: Dr Neil Crawford
Outstanding Commitment to Sustainability & Biodiversity
Winner: Dr Carmen Rosa Medina-Carmona
Honourable mention: Dr Krista Bondy
Katie Howie Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Professor Emma MacLeod
VP Education's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Academic Education
Winner: Professor Helen Scott