Dr Touseef Mir at the Centre of Development Studies at the University of Bath has been awarded the 2024 Mary Tasker Award, awarded to recognise excellence in teaching, particularly through the use of creative and effective approaches.

Touseef was described by the judges as an inspiring educator and a catalyst for positive change within his field.

Students praise Touseef for his infectious passion for the subjects he teaches and the highly interactive nature of his sessions. His dedication to fostering inclusivity and addressing issues of diversity and decolonisation within the curriculum, reflects his profound understanding of the importance of these issues and his efforts have significantly enriched his colleagues’ efforts to tackle these topics. In addition to Touseef’s exceptional teaching abilities, his impact extends beyond the classroom. As the founder of (Pe’nd), an innovative educational initiative focused on decolonial approaches to knowledge production, he has spearheaded community-university partnerships.

We asked Touseef what advice he could give other educators who are charged with teaching future generations about the complex subject of development studies: 

“I believe for fields like ours teaching is not only complicated, but comes with a lot of responsibility as well. So, being aware of colonial histories and not reproducing colonial hierarchies should be a paramount consideration in teaching of development. Decentering the idea of knowledge creation, challenging the in-class power dynamics as well as the creation of an inclusive learning environment should be equally important. Moreover, not teaching theories and concepts as universal or truisms and instead basing our teaching on the appreciation of  multiple and contextual realities with equally heterogenous approaches and epistemologies should be a vital part of our teaching praxis. 

“Receiving the Mary-Tasker (2024) is really humbling. The award is not my individual achievement, rather it is the result of a collective and organic endeavour,” said Touseef. 

“Teaching never happens in a vacuum. It needs an ecosystem to thrive in. My wonderful colleagues, amazing students, all supportive departments and the beautiful university in general are my ecosystem that inform and shape my teaching. They all helped me get here. So, the award is not just mine, but equally theirs, THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!”

He added, “I feel especially thankful to my colleagues whose rich work, knowledge and toil I have been building upon and who have always been there to support and encourage me. Equally importantly, I have been lucky to have some of the best students I could ask for and I am deeply thankful to them. It is their interest, interaction and engagement that make my teaching effective.”

“Moreover, having received the award is quite reassuring. It is a recognition and appreciation of my teaching praxis and engagement. The award, most definitely, has boosted my zeal to keep building on my pedagogy be it innovative and inclusive teaching methods, decolonial teaching praxis or decentring the in-class power dynamics.”