Archaeologist Rachel Schats wins LUS Teaching Prize 2026
Associate Professor and Education Director Rachel Schats has won the LUS Teaching Prize 2026. The award was presented during the Opening of the Academic Year and is a particularly meaningful recognition, as students themselves nominate their lecturers. Making the achievement even more remarkable, archaeologist Martin Berger was also among this year's nominees, while last year's award was won by archaeologist Arjan Louwen.
Top three
'When I heard that I had been nominated, I thought: “Wow, that’s fantastic!”' says Schats. 'But after that, there’s a whole process. People attend your lectures, you make it into the top three, and you give a symposium presentation. By the time the awards ceremony finally arrived, I was incredibly nervous. My husband even asked why I was so anxious. But this really means a great deal to me.' When her name was announced as the winner, feelings of pride and gratitude quickly took over.
'It’s actually hard to put into words. I get tremendous satisfaction from teaching, and I devote a great deal of time to it. To see that effort recognised with an award like this is truly special. What’s more, I was nominated by one of my own students. There’s no politics involved. Students take the time to nominate you because they genuinely appreciate what you do. It doesn’t get any better than that.'
Passion for education
What makes her teaching so special is something Schats finds difficult to judge for herself. Still, she has a sense of why students nominated her. 'I think I’m able to explain complex topics in a clear and accessible way. Archaeology naturally has a certain appeal, but it can also be a very complex field. Students often tell me they appreciate the fact that I make difficult material easier to understand.'
Students are always at the centre of her approach to teaching. 'I genuinely care about my students. I probably devote more time to them than I should. I’m approachable and I want to help them succeed. I think students appreciate that.'
In her teaching, Schats is constantly looking for ways to actively engage students with the subject matter. 'I combine theory and practice. I alternate short lecture segments with assignments, discussions, or the examination of archaeological materials. Active learning is embedded in everything I do. I’m always asking myself: how can we make this material truly resonate? How can we help students make it their own? People often use the word “passion” when talking about my teaching, and I think that’s fair. I really do care deeply about education.'
Innovation in education
In addition to her work as a lecturer, Schats also plays an active role within the Leiden Teachers’ Academy (LTA), a network of educators dedicated to educational innovation and the exchange of knowledge across the university. Winners of the LUS Teaching Prize automatically become members of the academy. However, Schats’ nomination for the award led to a unique situation. 'When I reached the final three, the question arose: how are we going to handle this? It had never happened before. In the end, it was decided that I could extend my membership by another five years. I’m absolutely delighted about that, because the Teachers’ Academy is something truly special.'
Within the LTA, Schats works with colleagues from different faculties on a wide range of educational challenges. 'You learn an enormous amount from one another. We talk about theses, final projects, what we actually want students to learn, and how we deal with developments such as AI. It’s incredibly valuable to look at education from different perspectives.'
Grateful to the students
Looking back on the award ceremony, it is gratitude that stands out above all. 'I would very much like to thank my students. The fact that lecturers from our Faculty are nominated so regularly also shows that we have an active and engaged student community that genuinely values education. That is something to be proud of.'
Schats is also full of praise for the Leiden University Student Association (LUS), which organises the award each year. 'A tremendous amount of work goes into it. Students attend the lectures of all nominees, take detailed notes, and approach the evaluation process very seriously. In doing so, they show that they genuinely care about education. That is what makes the LUS Teaching Prize such a wonderful initiative.'
With this award, Schats receives recognition not only for her own dedication, but also for the central role that inspiring and innovative teaching plays within the Faculty of Archaeology.
Check out the moment the prize is being awarded (at minute 1:45)
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