Congratulations to two Selwyn Fellows awarded the prestigious Pilkington Prize for Teaching Excellence this year.
Professor Nick Butterfield, Professor of Evolutionary Biology in the Department of Earth Sciences, is recognised for his exceptional contribution to teaching.
Nick has been a pivotal contributor to the Earth Sciences teaching programme since 1995, and was the Trevelyan Research Fellow at Selwyn from 1992 to 1995. As director of teaching from 2018 to 2021, he led the lengthening of Part III projects and introduced the MASt degree.
He oversaw the department's return to in person teaching after the pandemic to make sure students had hands-on experience of specimens.
Oleg Kitov, Robert Martin Fellow and Associate Professor of Economics, receives the prize for a decade of transformative teaching across the University.
He developed an evidence-based framework centred on retrieval practice and sustainable feedback — a learning-by-doing approach that has been adopted across the Faculty of Economics and colleges.
The impact of his innovative methodology has put Selwyn at the top of the Tripos for Economics exam results, while delivering consistently outstanding student satisfaction and higher academic attainment across the board.
Oleg is the first member of the Faculty of Economics to receive the Pilkington Prize in over 12 years, and this honour follows his recent QS Reimagine Education Award (2025).
Beyond the classroom, Oleg is a dedicated mentor to early-career colleagues and a leading voice in shaping University admissions and access policy.
Oleg said: “This award feels particularly special as it honours a decade of work dedicated to my students at Selwyn. It validates my lifelong conviction that teaching is not just about lecturing; it’s about engineering student-centred systems that inspire confidence, ignite curiosity, and foster true intellectual independence.”
The award ceremony takes place on 16 June 2026. Selwyn is proud of both fellows and the profound difference they make to our students.