Animation group awarded Quality in Education Prize

Text: Karl August Swanstrøm

15/Dec/2022 - Updated 15. December 2022

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The 2022 Quality in Education Prize at Volda University College (HVO) is awarded to the animation academic group at the Department of Media Studies.

The Quality in Education Prize is an annual prize awarded by the board at the final board meeting of the year. Vice-Rector Odd Helge Mjellem Tonheim says that the prize is intended to highlight the good efforts of individuals or academic groups in promoting quality in education at HVO. They are nominated by staff and students.

– As the prize focuses on the quality of education, it is part of our quality system that ensures we offer good education, says Mjellem Tonheim.

Program Coordinator for Animation, Assistant Professor Endre Eidså Larsen, says that the prize was unexpected.

– It was surprising to be nominated and to recieve this prize! The animation academic group always focuses on what can be improved. We're always thinking about what's not good enough, what needs to be better. So receiving this prize is surprising but very nice!

He states clearly that the prize would not have been possible without the help of the students.

– First and foremost, I would like to thank the students! We are very lucky with our students, and we have great respect for them as individuals. We learn a lot from them, and I experience that we have a good relationship of trust. The staff are dedicated, willing to learn, and very concerned that the students are doing well and are able to explore the subject. One of the best things about working here is wondering about the subject and animation as an art form with the students.

The faculty administration have created a conducive environment

Eidså Larsen also says that the faculty must be given credit.

– There are many people to thank for such a prize, a good foundation has been laid over many years here in Volda and there are so many wonderful and kind people working at HVO. Thank you to those who nominated us and voted for us. I am sure that many at the University College deserved this prize. In particular, I would like to highlight a motivating work environment at the Department of Media Studies and our faculty leaders who work hard. Our currrent leader for the Faculty of Film and Animation, Ivar John Erdal, is very supportive and positive, and I would like to express my gratitude to our former faculty leader, Dag Roland, who has worked tirelessly over the years to create a good educational environment.

Here is the justification for the 2022 Quality in Education Prize at HVO:

The winner of this year's award is a young academic group with a combination of full-time and part-time staff, where the full-time staff members have a strong academic background and the part-time staff members have professional experience from the industry. The group has a clear educational plan and a well-functioning study environment with a high levels of activity and commitment among students and staff. The groups' courses are practical and relevant, and the group has close ties with the industry. The group has also shown good results in the national quality assurance system.

The academic group has a study program that is unusually well-suited for international students. The staff have initiated a Nordic research network for animation researchers. They also actively participate in the student-run annual Animation Volda Festival. This year's winner is the animation academic group at the Department of Media Studies.

50,000 as prize money

The award is 50,000 kroner for the academic group and is presented by the board of Volda University College. The award is to be used for initiatives that promote further work and development with a focus on quality in education, such as study trips, conferences, networking, or equipment for educational work.