Professor Elena Navrotskaya, a faculty member at CIS University, has received the IES Abroad Award for Excellence in Teaching, an international award recognizing teaching excellence among professors from around the world.
The award honors professors who stand out for their dedicated, creative, and inspiring teaching, as well as their ability to take the educational experience beyond the classroom. Candidates are nominated by students, professors, and IES Abroad staff members and are then evaluated by a selection committee made up of representatives from different academic areas within the organization.
In Elena Navrotskaya’s case, the recognition particularly highlights her work as a professor in Madrid and her ability to bring Spanish history, art, and culture closer to international students, encouraging them to explore the city, develop their critical thinking, and understand the cultural significance of art.
One of her students summed up the classroom experience this way: “Elena brought Spanish history and culture to life through stories and connections that gave meaning to what we were learning.” The testimonial also highlights Professor Navrotskaya’s close relationship with her students and her ability to spark curiosity and connect academic content with the experience of living and studying in Madrid.
As part of this recognition, Elena was invited to attend the IES Abroad Annual Conference in Chicago, where she had the opportunity to share experiences and insights with professors and international education professionals from around the world. Upon her return, she summed up the experience this way: “I’m coming back to my students with new ideas, highly motivated, and full of energy. It was an incredible experience!”
A Recognition of Teaching Excellence
At CIS University, Elena Navrotskaya brings this same approach to teaching into courses such as Creative Thinking and Practice and Intercultural Communication, where creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to understand different perspectives are central to the learning experience.
Her international recognition is also an opportunity to highlight one of the pillars of CIS University: the quality and international dimension of its faculty. Having professors who combine academic knowledge, professional and international experience, and close relationships with students brings different perspectives into the classroom and connects what students learn with the world beyond it. An award for Elena Navrotskaya that we at CIS University celebrate with special pride.
Congratulations, Elena!