Congratulations Farzad Saidi – BSc Teacher of the Year

”Farzad has come very close to the students, care about and reach out to students in a way that goes far beyond the scopes of the course”, according to the students’ quotes.

Congratulations! How does it feel to be so appreciated?

The award came as an enormous surprise to me – but one of the most pleasant ones I have had the privilege of experiencing thus far. This was really the first full course I ever taught after my Ph.D., but the students made it incredibly easy for me to set foot in the classroom. I enjoy thinking about financial intermediation and this award suggests to me that I was able to somewhat convey my passion to the students.

What drives you, as a teacher?

There are many ways to learn and everybody has their own style. I personally find it extremely important to bear this in mind when lecturing. I want students to focus on all the positives: learning is self-improvement – always! – irrespective of any grades or other accolades. In the classroom, I prioritize two things: First, I try to demonstrate the relevance of the topics I teach by giving an overview of cutting-edge research in a comprehensible way; second, finance is a subdiscipline of economics, and economics is full of life lessons, which I emphasize every step of the way.

As the recipient of this award, Farzad will receive 25,000 SEK by the contribution of Nordea, as well as a certificate from The SASSE Education Committee to decorate his office.