Prof. Gonen Singer and Dr. Shahar Alon Awarded 2024 Outstanding Lecturer

Prof. Gonen Singer and Dr. Shahar Alon are two of fifteen lecturers awarded the 2024 Bar-Ilan University’s Outstanding Lecturer Award. The criteria include high marks on student satisfaction surveys, promoting teaching innovation, course difficulty level, involvement in their department’s academic scheme, and supervising students from undergraduate to post-grad.

Dr. Shahar Alon says that in response to the challenges of the past year, he conducted a series of mini-lectures in his office for students on reserve duty. “It was a special experience, they’re first-year students, never been to university until now, some came in straight from the battlefront, and they come and sit in a room together and suddenly they become students,” he shares. In student satisfaction surveys, students said of Dr. Alon that he “makes an all-around effort to get us to understand the material, he truly cares about his students;” “Shahar is very organized and makes the material clear and accessible;” “Shahar is always bringing in toys to demonstrate the material so we can understand it better. He has a truly in-depth understanding of the material and you can tell by the questions that they’re explained very well, even beyond the topic we’re discussing at that moment.”

Prof. Gonen Singer shares that he occasionally encounters former students of his in his role as an industry consultant. “Every time, I’m touched to hear how much the courses gave them tools for coping with everyday challenges. It’s just as touching to find that they remember the personal touch that contributed to their success. It’s highly satisfying to know that you’re remembered after so many years, and that you’ve left a positive impression,” he says. His students’ feedback include compliments such as “excellent lecturer;” “simply incredible lecturer, clear and coherent and also caring and pleasant;” “to the point, doesn’t drag things on but doesn’t rush either;” “Great at explaining the material, attentive to questions;” “an incredible lecturer, active and captivating. Teaches the material in a fascinating way and gives amazing explanations. We need more lecturers like him.”

The Faculty of Engineering is committed to excellence in teaching, and is determine to provide its students with nothing but the best – particularly in a year as difficult and challenging as this one. We are extremely proud of Prof. Gonen Singer and Dr. Shahar Alon.