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On October 5th, at the Teacher of the Year Gala held at the Jõhvi Concert Hall, Professor Mati Roasto from the Estonian University of Life Sciences' Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences received the title of Lecturer of the Year.

Mati Roasto is a highly regarded lecturer among both students and continuing education participants, as well as a top-level scientist and Estonia's leading expert in the fields of food safety and veterinary public health.

Mati Roasto is characterized by professionalism, positivity, and excellent communication skills, including a sense of humor. According to students, Mati Roasto's creative and enthusiastic nature inspires the entire auditorium. His teaching process is appreciated for its well-structured format and the use of various learning methods, where discussions and case analyses create connections to practice, making learning exciting, unpredictable, and unique. Real-life examples develop students' skills and sense of responsibility. Fair assessment is also essential, and as a mentor, Mati Roasto is always available for his students, supporting creativity and development.

It is also important to highlight the integration of research and practice in teaching and the very high-quality learning materials. This applies not only to the so-called core program students but also to numerous continuing education training sessions for food sector employees and national supervisory authorities.

As an expert, Mati Roasto is convincing and reliable, and he is also active in addressing current issues in public discussions to raise consumer awareness of food safety.

Mati Roasto, like other category laureates, received a small statue of Joseph, who holds the globe, symbolizing the knowledge of the entire world. Through knowledge, the whole world is open to us and just an arm's reach away. All category laureates also received a cash award of 10,000 euros.

In March, anyone interested could submit candidates for the Teacher of the Year competition. Nearly 1,600 applications were received. Regional committees and the higher education committee then selected the finalists. This year, another beloved lecturer from the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Katrin Laikoja from the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, also made it into the top 10 lecturers of the year. From among the finalists, the national committee selected three nominees in each category.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Estonian Education Employees Union.