The ‘Innovation in Teaching’ award is one of two prizes presented each year by the Education Committee of the European Economic Association (EEA), to academics who have ‘made a significant contribution to spreading knowledge on economics’.
The award recognises the innovative design of the final-year ‘Communicating Economics’ unit and the benefits it offers – helping students develop skills in communicating economics concepts to non-specialist audiences. Such skills are highly sought-after by employers and equip economists with the tools to effectively influence policy and business decisions.
The course is based around a series of real-world assessments that require students to produce a communications portfolio – summarising a topical economics issue in a variety of mediums, from policy briefs to videos, for a range of audiences. Students are also taught key communication principles and techniques like storytelling, drawing on examples from classic writings by authors like George Orwell.
‘Communicating Economics’ was introduced as an optional module in 2019 and taken up by 50 students initially – it has since grown to be the choice of over 300 students. The award from the EEA includes seed funding that will allow the course to be further developed in future – making it accessible to an even wider audience.
Professor Sarah Smith said: “The substance of economics could not be more important to people’s lives. But to non-economists, the language of economics often feels inaccessible and disempowering.
“This course is designed to help future generations of economists overcome those barriers. It gives them the skills to actually realise their ambitions – of making the world a better place in reality, not just in theory.”
Professor Christian Spielmann added: “We’ve had excellent feedback about this course from students, who appreciate the opportunity to apply the economics skills they’ve learned in a practical, creative, and relevant way.
“To gain recognition for the course from a distinguished body like the European Economic Association is extremely satisfying. This award helps validate our goal of improving the communication of economics – not just to benefit our students, but for the benefit of our wider society.”