In June 2020, René Smits was already chosen as Lecturer of the Year 2020 by the students of the Amsterdam Law School.

During the Education Day 2020 on 19 October, René Smits was elected UvA Teacher of the Year. 

Contact with students

René was praised for his contact with students: 'The combination of his contact with students and making complicated subjects interesting, distinguishes this teacher from the rest', they said during the announcement. In a reaction to this, René let it be known that 'making a connection is what life is about, even outside the lecture hall. So that's something I'm trying to do'.

Very gratifying conclusion

In June 2020, René Smits was already chosen as Lecturer of the Year 2020 by the students of the Amsterdam Law School. He called this 'a very gratifying recognition of my professorship three months before its conclusion' in an interview following that appointment.