The video team from the LISA service department has been awarded the Educational Support Spotlight award. On Thursday afternoon, Koen Hak – team leader of the video team – received the award and certificate on behalf of Young Academy Twente.
Young Academy Twente (YAT) had selected three contenders for the title, and the video team ultimately emerged as the winner. As the current titleholder, the team received high praise from the judging committee. According to the organization, the department not only delivers high-quality video productions but also proactively collaborates with UT lecturers and researchers.
"Creative and Engaged Approach"
The evaluation states:
“The video team is there for anyone who wants to create media productions for educational purposes. The LISA video team elevates education and science by supporting lecturers and students in creating podcasts and instructional videos – through a creative and engaged approach. It's a valuable addition for situations where alternative methods are needed for the sake of efficiency and customized education.”
The award – established in 2023 – is intended for UT employees and departments who don't usually find themselves in the spotlight but play a crucial role in education at the University of Twente.
“That’s exactly why we as a video team exist. We work on innovation and support everyone who needs videos or media,” says team leader Koen Hak. “We’re noticing that more and more people at UT are finding their way to us – we’re definitely busy.”
Framing the Certificate
Not only is Hak delighted with the title – the entire team is proud. Each team member received a personalized certificate.
“The whole crew wanted to be at the ceremony. A lot of schedule rearranging happened to make that possible,” says Hak. “Our department has only existed for four and a half years, so we’re incredibly proud of this achievement and the recognition.”
In addition to the personal certificates, the team also received a handcrafted award and a team certificate.
“We’re going to frame it as soon as possible and hang it in our office,” Hak added.
Previous recipients of the award include the timetabling team and workshop support (ET), the Interaction Lab of the EEMCS faculty, and the Student Laboratory Twente of the TNW faculty.
What is the YAT Award?
Among YAT members – the Young Academy at UT – there was a shared sentiment that awards and grants are mainly given to scientists. This is true for research, but also for initiatives like the Central Education Award. In 2023, a YAT working group changed this by launching the Educational Support Spotlight award.
The award is intended for support staff who are essential to education. According to Young Academy, people working behind the scenes make a vital contribution to innovation and education at the University of Twente. The award was created to ensure that their work is not taken for granted and to publicly show appreciation for what they do.
