Patrik Aronsson receives the students’ teaching excellence award Pedalen
At the traditional herring lunch hosted by the Sahlgrenska Academy Students’ Union (SAKS), Patrik Aronsson was presented with the Pedalen trophy — an award given by the students themselves.
“Receiving Pedalen means a great deal to me. I have been involved in higher education at many different levels for a long time, and it is motivating to receive confirmation that students appreciate the work. It is gratifying that the common thread running through teaching, student interaction, and program leadership has been recognized. For me, all of these components are important and rewarding to work with, and I am especially grateful to have learned so much from both students and fantastic colleagues over the years,” says Patrik Aronsson.
Between 2013 and 2025, Patrik Aronsson served as program lead for the pharmacy program and the bridging program for internationally trained pharmacists. The nomination highlights a very strong development of the program during these years, with clear improvements in both its structure and student well-being.
The nomination highlights changes in course structure, including the restructuring of the pharmacology course into several components, as well as ongoing efforts to further develop the program. According to the nomination, students who turned to Patrik always received support whenever he could assist, and felt that every concern was taken seriously—regardless of its size.
The anonymous student who nominated him describes his contribution as follows:
“As a teacher, he is truly outstanding, and many feel that they pick up the material immediately, given how interactive he is. He also brings a clear sense of engagement and a strong interest in what he teaches, which inspires all students.”
Patrik also emphasizes the opportunity to develop teaching in different formats:
“I have had the privilege of working in a supportive environment that has allowed me to pursue development projects. In addition to traditional lectures, which are important in their own right, I have worked on developing flipped classroom elements, online modules, and interactive sessions with public agencies, among other things.”
At the core of his work is fostering interest and engagement:
“The most important thing I do in my job is to try to inspire students to want to learn more and to enjoy pharmacology! If you can combine enthusiasm for the subject with the willingness to set high expectations, I believe students feel both motivated and seen. I always take students seriously.”
Pedalen is one of the most highly regarded teaching awards at the Sahlgrenska Academy — precisely because it is awarded by the students themselves.
Congratulations to Patrik Aronsson!
Photo from the herring lunch: SAKS
Portrait: Malin Arnesson
Photo of the trophy: Patrik Aronsson
Text: Elin Lindström
