A group of lecturers from the Faculty of Social and Political Science, College of Edinburgh has obtained the 2025 Jacqui Briggs Prize from the Political Research Affiliation (PSA) for excellent contributions to advancing educating and studying in political research, for a course developed in collaboration with the Centre on Constitutional Change.
The PSA is the UK’s main skilled affiliation devoted to supporting and selling the research and public understanding of politics. The PSA celebrates the most effective of the self-discipline by way of its annual Educational Prizes, with the award classes recognising excellent dissertations, skilled contributions, educating, and students throughout the occupation.
This yr’s Jacqui Briggs Prize was awarded to the Politics and Worldwide Relations topic space and the Centre on Constitutional Change on the College of Edinburgh for the undergraduate course ‘Up to date Points in Political Science’. The 2024/25 version of the course, delivered in partnership with UK in a Altering Europe, centered on the 2024 UK Common Election.
The course was led by convener Dr Davide Vampa, Senior Lecturer in Territorial Politics at SPS and Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change. It consisted of a collection of high-profile public talks, bringing collectively main lecturers and specialists to analyse key points of the election marketing campaign, its outcomes, and wider implications.
Whereas the collection was a core element of the expertise for college kids enrolled within the course, it was additionally open to the broader tutorial group. Over the 10-week interval, a whole bunch of scholars and workers attended, making it a flagship initiative of the primary semester of 2024/25.
Dr Vampa stated: “Scholar suggestions was overwhelmingly optimistic. College students valued the chance to have interaction straight with specialists and to use what they discovered in seminars and thru modern types of evaluation that helped them critically consider each the lead-up to and the results of the Common Election.”
Dr Vampa accepted the award on behalf of the group on the PSA25, the PSA’s Worldwide Annual Convention in Birmingham on 14 April.
He stated: “This award is a transparent recognition of the excellence of research-led educating within the Faculty of Social and Political Science on the College of Edinburgh. Via the work of the Centre on Constitutional Change, in partnership with UK in a Altering Europe, we have been capable of supply college students and colleagues a singular and fascinating studying expertise.
“I’m significantly grateful to the main students who contributed to the collection. Every week, they shared their insights and experience to assist unpack one of the vital political occasions of 2024 – not solely protecting the marketing campaign and election itself, but additionally exploring its aftermath. Thanks are additionally as a result of SPS Scholar Growth Crew, significantly to Rohanie Campbell-Thakoordin, who offered important help for the course all through the semester.”
The educating group included the next lecturers and specialists:
Dr. Davide Vampa, Prof. Sarah Childs, Prof. Meryl Kenny, Prof. Ailsa Henderson, Dr. Fraser McMillan, Prof. Anand Menon, Ms. Jill Rutter, Prof. Jonathan Portes, Prof. Sarah Corridor, Mr. Michael Crick, Ms. Rachel Amery, Ms. Sophie Stowers, Prof. Paula Surridge, Mr. Jim Bladgen, Prof. John Curtice, Dr. Stefanie Reher, Dr. Jan Eichhorn, Dr. Hayley Bennett, Prof. John Garry, Prof. John Denham, Prof. Richard Wyn Jones, and Prof. Robert Ford.
Learn the total winners announcement on the PSA web site.
