Celebrating Glocal Teaching Excellence:
the first EURECA-PRO Teaching Excellence Awards
Celebrating Outstanding Educators
- News
During the EURECA-PRO Education and Research Days 2026 in Hasselt, EURECA-PRO proudly presented the first Teaching Excellence Awards, marking an important milestone for the alliance.
The Teaching Excellence Awards were established to recognise educators across EURECA-PRO who demonstrate outstanding innovation in teaching, successfully integrate global perspectives with local relevance, and strengthen student learning through forward-looking pedagogical approaches. The awards reflect the alliance’s commitment to educational excellence as a core pillar of the European Universities Initiative.
Three distinct categories highlight different dimensions of excellence in teaching:
Rising Star Award
For early-career educators who demonstrate exceptional promise and innovation in teaching.
Dr Sofía Blanco Moreno, Universidad de León
Dr Blanco Moreno was recognised for her practice-based approach to marketing education. She fully integrates artificial intelligence, data analysis tools and active learning methodologies into her courses, preparing students for real-world professional challenges. Through simulations, team-based projects and authentic briefs for eco startups, students work with AI applications, digital design platforms and web scraping techniques to analyse markets and trends. Her approach not only strengthens technical competencies but also fosters critical thinking and responsible use of technology.
Glocal Teaching Excellence Award
For academic staff who successfully integrate global perspectives with local relevance.
Peggy Winkels, Hasselt University
Peggy Winkels was awarded for her long-standing coordination of the Design Studio Global Perspectives within the Master of Architecture programme. Since 2015, the studio has connected students from Hasselt University with partner institutions in Tanzania, Vietnam and South Africa to collaboratively address contemporary urban challenges. Through research-by-design, students develop locally grounded architectural interventions informed by global exchange. Her pedagogy is built on reciprocity, equity and long-term partnership, embedding international collaboration structurally into the curriculum.
Innovative Teaching Practice Award
For creative and impactful teaching approaches that rethink methods and learning environments.
Prof. María Piedad Campelo Rodríguez, Universidad de León
Prof. Campelo Rodríguez was honoured for developing an integrated teaching model in Agricultural Engineering that combines entrepreneurship education, challenge-based learning and close collaboration with industry. Students progressively build competencies from economic foundations to prototype development and company placements. By integrating technical expertise with business skills and transversal competences such as teamwork and communication, her model strengthens graduate employability and aligns closely with contemporary European educational innovation trends.
Together, the awardees demonstrate what glocal teaching excellence means in practice. Education that is innovative, socially responsible and deeply connected to real societal challenges.
The Teaching Excellence Awards will continue to grow as a key initiative within EURECA-PRO, strengthening recognition of outstanding educators across the alliance.
