Professor Bill Buchanan OBE, the cryptography and cybersecurity academic teaching at Edinburgh Napier University, has been named Most Innovative Teacher of the Year at the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.
The Times Higher Education awards are recognised as the “Oscars of higher education” and its judges praised Buchanan on his curriculum, rapport with students, his dynamic external speakers, and the promotion of cybersecurity literacy beyond higher education.
The award is but the latest accolade for the Scottish professor. Buchanan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2017 for his services to cybersecurity. He’s also a fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS), a principal fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), and has won multiple student-voted awards for teaching excellence.
Buchanan is a regular speaker at DIGIT conferences, with attendees having the opportunity to witness his engaging approach to speaking and teaching first-hand. Most recently, in September, Buchanan presented on the threats and opportunities of quantum computing at the Scot-Secure West event in Glasgow.
Speaking on the award win, Buchanan said: “The past year or so has been amazing – with such great students who have been so eager to learn.
“In fact, it has been great fun, and I have loved every minute of it.
“There are few better jobs in the world than the privilege of being a teacher to great students – and in having the opportunity to teach and do research on the topics I love.”
The Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, Professor Andrea Nolan, remarked: “This award is a recognition of Bill’s ability to take complex areas of cryptography and teach them in an engaging and practical way.
“His commitment to helping future generations build rewarding careers in computing and cybersecurity is a source of pride for the University.
“I warmly congratulate him on this honour and have no doubt he will continue to find more innovative ways of inspiring students in the years to come.”
Buchanan’s award came on the same night as a project he’s involved with also won industry recognition.
At the Santander X UK Awards, Lasting Asset, a technology solution for tackling impersonation phone scams, won the People’s Choice Award.
The Edinburgh Napier University project also won the Cisco Future Tech Award at the Converge Awards earlier this year.
It is led by the University’s Dr Zakwan Jaroucheh, as well as Nanik Ramchandani, and aims to test its technology with pilot customers before taking the product to market.
As well as Buchanan, the company is supported by Dr Cathy Higginson, Business Development and Relationship Manager at the University’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise department.
Source: DIGIT