BEST PERSONAL TUTOR

RHYS JONES

"RHYS IS SUPPORTING ME THROUGH THE AFTERMATH OF A MAJOR BEREAVEMENT. HE HAS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT UNDER PRESSURE WHEN UNWELL, AND HAS BEEN A VITAL LISTENING EAR WHEN I HAVE NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT MY PERSONAL SITUATION IS HAVING ON MY STUDIES. I DID NOT CHOOSE FOR ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN AND I THINK RHYS UNDERTSANDS MY FRUSTRATION ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS IS AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO DELIVER. I AM DETERMINED TO FINISH MY STUDEIS IN SOME MEANINGFUL WAY AND I FEEL THAT RHYS IS HELPING ME INCH TOWARDS THAT ULTIMATE GOAL. HE TOTALLY DESERVES AN AWARD BECAUSE HE IS JUST SUCH A NICE, GENUINE AND SUPPORTIVE PERSON. "

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BEST DISSERTATION/ PROJECT SUPERVISOR

DR. BARRY MAYDOM

"I AM NOMINATING DR. BARRY MAYDOM FOR THIS AWARD BECAUSE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT THAT I RECEIVED FROM HIM AS MY DISSERTATION SUPERVISOR (MRES PUBLIC POLICY) AND CONTINUING AS MY FIRST SUPERVISOR IN MY PHD. AT EACH MEETING HE ASKS ME QUESTIONS WHICH BUILD ON WHAT I HAVE SHARED WITH HIM BUT ALSO TAKE ME FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS. I ALWAYS LEAVE THE MEETINGS FEELING HE HAS UNDERSTOOD WHERE I AM AND HAS PROVIDED ME WITH NEW THINKING TOO. BETWEEN MEETINGS HE HAS SENT ME LINKS TO A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES WHICH HAVE HELPED ME TO OBTAIN TRAINING, NEW RESEARCH ARTICLES AND EVEN TO PRESENT A PAPER AT A CONFERENCE. THESE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY ENRICHED MY EXPERIENCE AT BIRKBECK AS WELL AS ENABLING ME ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY. DR MAYDOM IS A VERY UNDERSTANDING PERSON WHO I AM THOROUGHLY ENJOYING WORKING WITH."

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BEST LECTURER/ SEMINAR TEACHER

DR. FELIX REIDL AND DR. SIMON GREEN

"FELIX HAS BEEN MY TUTOR FOR TWO OF MY MODULES THIS YEAR AND THEY HAVE GENUINELY BEEN THE MOST ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE MODULES I HAVE EVER TAKEN. HE MANAGED TO RETAIN THE FEEL OF BEING IN A CLASSROOM DESPITE US ALL LEARNING REMOTELY, USING WELL-STRUCTURED GROUP WORK AND THE MOST AMAZING AND FUN PRE-RECORDED LECTURES. THE GROUP WORK NOT ONLY GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW MY PEERS BUT TO APPLY THE LEARNING USING INTERESTING SCENARIOS THAT ALSO HELPED US ALL GAIN PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SOMETIMES QUITE DIFFERENT ESPERIENCES WE EACH HAD. FOR SUBJECTS THAT COULD BE VERY TECHNICAL AT TIMES, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE MORE BALANCED APPROACH FELIX TOOK WITH HIS MODULES. HE CAREFULLY INCORPORATED TOPICS LIKE ETHICS AND EQUALITY THROUGHOUT THE MODULES TO ENSURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD AND VALUED THEM EQUALLY, AND DID NOT JUST TREAT THEM AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT OR TICK-BOX EXERCISE. FELIX IS ALSO A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC YET PATIENT TUTOR, MAKING EVERYONE FEEL SAFE TO ASK ANY QUESTION WITHOUT JUDGEMENT AND MOTIVATING US EVEN WHEN WE WERE ALL TIRED OR STRUGGLING. I WISH I HAD MORE MODULES WITH HIM!"

"DR. REIDL HAS BEEN THE MOST ENGAGING AND HELPFUL LECTURER I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH SINCE MY FOUNDATION YEAR TO PRESENT FIRST YEAR. A VARIETY OF CONTENT WAS PROVIDED WHICH REALLY STRETCHED OUR MINDS, AT THE SAME TIME BEING BROKEN DOWN WELL, GENTLY, STEP BY STEP. FELIX HAS HELPED US GAIN CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF MANY COMPLEX TOPICS WITHOUT FEELING OVERWHELMED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE IS KIND, DOWN TO EARTH, EASY TO TALK TO, SORT OF ENTERTAINING PUTTING IN LOTS OF EFFORT TO SHARE HUMOUR, KIND WORDS, AMUSING DIALOGUE WHILST WE HAVE TECHINCAL ERRORS, AND HE IS VERY HUMANE AND PERSONABLE. IT WAS ENJOYABLE TO LISTEN TO HIM, AND PRE-RECORDED CONTENT WAS DIVERSE, FUN AND VERY CREATIVE! I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME ASKING QUESTIONS AND RECEIVING HIS HELP DURING HIS OFFICE HOURS THAN ANY OTHER LECTURER HAS MADE THEMSELVES OPENLY AVAILABLE BEFORE, AND THIS IS IMMEASURABLY VALUABLE TOWARDS MY ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH! HE HAS LEFT A GREAT IMPRESSION AND DESERVES RECOGNITION."

"I THINK HE WENT BEYOND THE SUBJECT'S SCOPE BY TEACHING ASO ETHICS WITHIN COMPUTING."

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BEST NON-TEACHING STAFF MEMBER

BEVERLEY MOLES

"BEVERLEY HAS BEEN WORKING ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THE DEPT OF ECONOMICS, MATHEMATICS, AND STATISTICS FOR YEARS. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR, SHE HAS OUTDONE HERSELF HAVING TAKEN OVER AS ASSISTANT SCHOOL MANAGER AT SHORT NOTICE DUE TO A COLLEAGUE'S HEALTH. LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN , I HAVE NO IDEA HOW SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH GREAT SUPPORT TO BOTH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC TEAM AT THIS TIME - HER WORKLOAD MUST BE VERY INTENSE COVERING SO MANY ROLES. OUR TEAM FEELS UNDERSTAFFED AT THE BEST OF TIMES, SO TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A GOOD EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS DESPITE TWO STAFF MEMBERS OF A SMALL TEAM BEING AWAY - BEVERLEY WILL HAVE ACTED AS A SHOCK ABSORBER TO MAKE SURE THIS HAS NOT AFFECTED STUDENT EXPERIENCE. AT A TIME WHEN THE COLLEGE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENT NUMBERS, ENSURING WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO SUPPORT AND KEEP OUR EXISTING STUDENTS IS INVALUABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE BEVERLEY FOR THIS AWARD BECAUSE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN FOR HER - AND YET IN TERMS OF SUPPORT AND KEEPING OUR DEPARTMENT RUNNING, YOU WOULD HAVE NO IDEA. I THINK THIS DESERVES RECOGNITION. "

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COURSE REP OF THE YEAR

MEGAN RAMSELL

"MEGAN HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND APPROACHABLE. MEGAN IS ACTIVE IN STUDENT FORUMS SUPPORTING EVERYONE AND PROMOTING THE STUDENT REP PROCESS. I KNOW SHE HAS MET WITH COURSE CONVENORS MULTIPLE TIMES TO REPRESENT STUDENTS WITH THEIR ISSUES. SHE IS INCREDIBLY GENEROUS WITH HER TIME AND AN ASSET TO BIRKBECK."

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EVENT OF THE YEAR

ROSEMARY KOPER - FILM SOCIETY

"THE FILM SOCIETY LAUNCH EVENT WAS REALLY WELL PLANNED AND SUCH AN AMAZING ACTIVITY TO ATTEND. THE SOCIETY HAD BEEN SILENT FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS WAS PERFECT IN GETTING IT UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. LOTS OF PEOPLE CAME, THERE WAS A MIXER, A FILM SCREENING AND FREE PIZZA! EVER SINCE THE GROUP HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITING, PUTTING ON SCREENINGS AND EVENTS REALLY OFTEN, AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY IS GROWING ALL THE TIME. THIS EVENT DESERVES TO WIN BECAUSE OF THE BIG EFFECT IT HAS HAD ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE. "

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COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE YEAR

DULEEP DIAS

"DULEEP BECAME THE STAND IN CHAIR THIS YEAR TO HELP ORGANISE THE BADMINTON CLUB. ALONG WITH ZHERAN, HE DID A REALLY INCREDIBLE JOB - SORTING OUT MEMBERS, TRAINING SESSIONS AND THE TEAM FOR FIXTURES. THE CLUB HAD A REALLY AMAZING YEAR WITH HIS LEADERSHIP, WINNING THE LEAGUE, AS WELL AS TAKING A GROUP OF STUDENTS TO THE BUCS NATIONALS IN SHEFFIELD TO REPRESENT BIRKBECK IN THE NATIONAL COMPETITION. IT IS AMAZING THAT HE WAS ELECTED CHAIR TO LEAD THE CLUB NEXT YEAR TOO, SO A REALLY EXCITING TIME TO BE A MEMBER."

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STUDENT GROUP OF THE YEAR

PAKISTANI SOCIETY

"THE PAKISTANI SOCIETY HAS BEEN REALLY ACTIVE THIS YEAR, AND A SOCIETY THAT HAS PUT ON A LOT OF ACTIVITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS."

"ACTIVE SOCIETY HOSTING REGULAR EVENTS. FROM MEET AND GREETS, QAWWALI NIGHT, VISITING WINTER WONDERLAND, IT GIVES STUDENTS A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER."

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OUSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BIRKBECK EXPERIENCE

GILLIAN WOODS

"THIS YEAR HAS BEEN REALLLY DIFFICULT FOR ME PERSONALLY AND I HAD TO OVERCOME A LOT OF ISSUES WITH MY FATHER'S SUDDEN SERIOUS ILLNESS ALONGSIDE MANAGING MY OWN CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS. DR. WOODS GOT IN TOUCH AND HELD A NUMBER OF ZOOM MEETINGS TO HELP ME TO NAVIGATE THE YEAR. WITHOUT HER SUPPORT I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY NEEDED TO SUSPEND. SHE NOT ONLY HELPED ME MANAGE THE ACADEMIC WORKLOAD BUT WAS EXTREMELY PERSONABLE, EMPATHETIC AND SUPPORTIVE. I PREVIOUSLY HAD TO LEAVE UNIVERSITY WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND I RECOGNISE I HAVE COMPLEX NEEDS DUE TO MY OWN ONGOING HEALTH DIFFICULTIES. BIRKBECK IN GENERAL HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH OFFERING ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SINGLE OUT DR. WOODS IN PARTICULAR. BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR HAS HAD A HUGE POSITIVE IMPACT ON MY SELF-ESTEEM AND MENTAL HEALTH AND IT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO DR. WOODS' ONGOING UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT."

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OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BIRKBECK COMMUNITY

YINGJIE JENKINS

"YINGJIE HAS HELPED MANY STUDENTS IN THE YEAR TO UNDERSTAND RESEARCH METHODS AND HOSTED SESSIONS WITH US ONLINE TO BREAK IT DOWN FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE STRUGGLING. HE ALWAYS SHOWS PATIENCE AND SIMPLIFIES A TOPIC THAT MANY HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH. IF IT WASN'T FOR YINGJIE, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP ON TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT DUE TO THE ANXIETY IT CAUSES."

"YINGJIE HAS HELPED ME ON A PERSONAL LEVEL BY TAKING TIME TO GO OVER CONTENT ON RESEARCH METHODS THAT I STRUGGLED TO UNDERSTAND, AND ALSO INSPIRING ME TO CARRY ON WHEN I HAD PERSONAL ISSUES IN MY LIFE. HE IS A GREAT FRIEND, AN AMAZING PEER, AND A STUDY FRIEND. HE HAS DONE THIS FOR AT LEAST A DOZEN OTHER STUDENTS ON OUR COURSE, AT THE EXPENSE OF HIS OWN REVISION TIME AT MOMENTS. HE REALLY DESERVES THIS MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE I KNOW! FINGERS CROSSED HE RECEIVES A THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND KINDNESS HE HAS GIVEN TO OTHERS THIS AND LAST YEAR."

"YINGJIE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTS PEOPLE ON COURSE AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALLY. HE GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO MAKE YOU FEEL WELCOME. HELPFUL REGARDING ANY COURSEWORK QUESTION. IN ADDITION, HE SHOWS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT ONLINE LECTURES AS WELL AS IN PERSON. I DO NOT KNOW A PERSON BETTER DESERVING OF THIS AWARD."

"IF YOU ASK ANY STUDENT FROM THE COURSE, THEY ALL KNOW JUST HOW HELPFUL AND CONSIDERATE YINGJIE ALWAYS IS. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ANYTHING, HE IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO DO SO AND WILL GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO. HE HAS MADE ME STEP BY STEP VIDEOS WHEN I WAS STUCK WITH RESEARCH METHODS. IF HE HAS ANY INFORMATION HE THINKS IS VALUABLE FOR EVERYONE, HE WILL SHARE IT TO THE WHOLE GROUP. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO DESERVES THIS AWARD MORE, AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO THINK SO."

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