The Department of Politics and International Studies is delighted to announce the 2025 Aaron Rapport Teaching Prize for excellence in teaching has been awarded to Dr Ilias Alami.
Each year, the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) awards a prize based on student feedback to the individual who has best informed students' education in politics and international studies over this past year. It could be a lecturer, a supervisor, or a seminar-leader, in any of the multitude of fields and subfields taught within the larger department. The award of the prize is based not just on the number of nominations, but also on what our current students have to say about why they believe the award should go to that person.
When students were asked to nominate an academic who has exhibited excellence in teaching this year, Dr Ilias Alami, an Assistant Professor in the Political Economy of Development in the Centre of Development Studies, received glowing nominations.
Here is a brief selection of what some of Dr Alami's students had to say about him in this year's feedback survey:
"Dr. Alami was, by far, the best professor I had the privilege of learning from this term. He thoroughly engaged with our cohort and made every effort for students to learn the content."
- Student MPhil in Development Studies
"Ilias has demonstrated consistent passion and enthusiasm for his subject, engagement with students, and commitment to the University. Amongst students, he is a favorite not only for his lectures but also for his friendly yet authentic style of engagement. I am thrilled every chance I have to chat with Ilias and pick his brain; he demonstrates excellent depth and breadth of knowledge. Thankful to have Ilias in CDS!"
- Student MPhil in Development Studies
When asked about winning this year's prize, Dr Alami said,
"Teaching at POLIS has been a real pleasure. I’m learning every day from critically engaged and highly motivated students, who want to understand the messy world we live in, in order to change it. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and energy are truly inspiring, and it is great to see my small contribution to their education rewarded. Receiving this award is hugely gratifying. Massive thanks to the students and POLIS!"
POLIS has been awarding a teaching prize for many years which has been won by both junior and senior scholars. The teaching prize was renamed the Aaron Rapport Prize in 2020 in honour of our late and much lamented colleague, who died far too young in 2019 and who was one of the most popular and engaging lecturers in the department. His lectures and supervisions on US foreign policy and international relations drew some of the highest praise ever given by POLIS students for their originality, their humour and their captivating quality. In previous years, the prize was for undergraduate teaching only. In 2023, postgraduate teaching was included in the prize for the first time.
The Department of Politics and International Studies would like to wholeheartedly congratulate Dr Ilias Alami on winning this year's prize.