Thomas Roulet, Associate Professor in Organisation Theory and Deputy Director of the Cambridge MBA programme at Cambridge Judge, is awarded a Pilkington Prize for excellence in teaching by the University of Cambridge.
Thomas Roulet, Associate Professor in Organisation Theory and Deputy Director of the Cambridge MBA programme at Cambridge Judge Business School, has been named a winner of the Pilkington Prize for excellence in teaching awarded by the University of Cambridge.
Twelve Pilkington Prizes are announced annually by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, The award will be presented by the Pro-Vice Chancellor at a ceremony at Fitzwilliam College on 22 June.
Nominations for the Prize are based on factors including major contributions to teaching, devising new pedagogical approaches, innovative use of technology, setting up new opportunities for student learning, and proactive involvement in education committees.
In addition to his roles at Cambridge Judge, Thomas is Bye-Fellow and Co-Director of the King’s Entrepreneurship Lab at King’s College, and External Director of Studies in Management at Girton College & Murray Edwards College.
Thomas’s teaching is diverse, and he promotes all aspects of diversity
Thomas has taught on 5 programmes at the Business School – including modules on:
- MPhil programmes
- Master of Studies in Entrepreneurship
- Master of Studies in Social Innovation
- Executive Education
- Cambridge MBA.
He has been named to the ’40 Under 40 MBA Professors’ list by business school publication Poets & Quants, and was also named one of the ‘Business Professors to Look Out For’ by publication Business Because.
Since early 2022, Dr Roulet lead a Diversity in Case Study Teaching Committee to increase diversity and representativeness in the cases used across Cambridge Judge programmes. He writes cases with students and collaborates with colleagues to include cases that feature women, persons of colour, neurodiverse, and LGBTQ+ leaders.
A dynamic approach and excellent rapport with students
In announcing the award, the University said:
“Dr Thomas Roulet provides outstanding management teaching in department programmes as well as collegiate activities. He is passionate in helping students understand core management theory and research and mobilise their own experience in the classroom to immerse in learning through role-plays and improvisation exercises.
“He makes it paramount to build rapport with students and adopt a dynamic, participatory teaching style to create engagement in the classroom.
A pivot to blended learning during the pandemic
“During the initial COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Thomas’s co-taught MBA module was one of the first at Cambridge Judge Business School to pivot to blended learning and was labelled the ‘gold standard’ and ‘an example of what all other classes could be’ by one of the students.
“As part of his role as Deputy Director of the MBA programme (since 2019), Thomas oversees students’ consulting projects, giving them an opportunity to put their skills to practice.”
Bridging the gap between Cambridge Judge and collegiate Cambridge
In the wider University of Cambridge, Thomas participates in several programmes: he has supervised Introduction to Sociology at Girton and King’s College, directed studies in Psychology & Behavioural Science, and co-founded the King’s Entrepreneurship Lab at King’s College with Kamiar Mohaddes, Associate Professor in Economics & Policy at Cambridge Judge. The Lab is aimed at providing management and entrepreneurial skills beyond the business school to a broader set of graduate and undergraduate students.
As noted by the University nomination, “His dedication to pedagogy extends to his collegiate activities… As part of King’s Entrepreneurship Lab, Thomas co-designed and co-delivered a one-week intensive residential programme open to University of Cambridge students to learn core entrepreneurial skills, supporting them in establishing social and sustainable ventures and connecting them with relevant alumni afterwards.”