UNSW has a national and international reputation for outstanding educators. Each year the University celebrates the outstanding achievements of its highly dedicated teachers through the UNSW Awards for Teaching.
The aim of the awards is to recognise people who have made contributions to student learning and/or the student experience. UNSW Sydney recognises outstanding contributions to student learning through six highly prestigious awards:
- Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence
- Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching
- Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
- Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing
- Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning
- The Heinz Harant Award for Teaching Innovation
These awards:
- align with UNSW’s priorities for strategic development of academic excellence
- formally recognise educational excellence at UNSW
- showcase examples of good practice for enhancing the student learning experience
The UNSW Scientia Education Experience emphasises:
- Communities
- Feedback and Dialogue
- Inspiring Teaching
Being Digital underpins all of this.
Awards information session
The Academic Development Team ran an information session for prospective applicants on Monday 23 August, covering the following topics:
- Overview of awards
- How to write a strong application
- How to apply
- Tips from past award recipients
Click here to view and download the information session slides.
Click here to view the recording.
The six award categories are below:
Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching Excellence
The prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence recognise individuals or teaching teams for their excellence, leadership, and sustained commitment to teaching and learning at UNSW. In particular, they reward the enrichment of student experiences and the improvement of learning outcomes through innovation and the delivery of quality teaching over a sustained period.
Award criteria
Applicants are required to address all four criteria which will be given equal consideration by the assessors:
- Approaches to teaching and/or the support of learning that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn.
- Development of curricula, resources or services that reflect a command of the field.
- Evaluation practices that bring about improvements in teaching and learning.
- Innovation, leadership or scholarship that has influenced and enhanced learning and teaching and/or the student experience.
Award: $5,000 (subject to tax)
Number of awards: two, and one should recognise early career.
To submit an application for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence:
Download and fill in this form
Submit the form and supporting documents via email to: [email protected]
The submission deadline is COB on 27 September 2021.
Find out more information in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching recognises and honours individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to student learning and the student experience over five or more years. It rewards individuals who have had a sustained impact on student learning and who have contributed to the development of a collegial working environment that fosters excellence in teaching.
Award criteria
Applicants are required to address all four criteria below, which will be given equal consideration by the assessors.
- Demonstrated sustained impact on student learning and the student experience, evidenced through peers, students, and external bodies.
- Development of curricula, engaging resources and/or learning environments that reflect a command of the field.
- Continued commitment to reflective improvement in teaching, evidenced by evaluation practices that enhance teaching and learning.
- Cultivates a collegial and supportive working environment that fosters excellence in teaching.
Award: $5,000 (subject to tax)
Number of awards: One.
To submit an application for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching:
Download and fill in this form
Submit the form and supporting documents via email to: [email protected]
The submission deadline is COB on 27 September 2021.
Find out more information in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning recognise and reward individuals and/or teams for their sustained, outstanding contribution to the quality of student learning in a specific area of responsibility.
Award criteria
Applicants are required to address one criterion from below. Nominations will be assessed on evidence provided in relation to the selected criterion.
- Approaches to teaching and/or the support of learning that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn.
- Development of curricula, resources or services that reflect a command of the field.
- Evaluation practices that bring about improvements in teaching and learning.
- Innovation, leadership or scholarship that has influenced and enhanced learning and teaching and/or the student experience
Award: $5,000 (subject to tax)
Number of awards: up to five, including one for early career, one for sessional staff and one postgraduate coursework teaching.
To submit an application for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning:
Download and fill in this form
Submit the form and supporting documents via email to: [email protected]
The submission deadline is COB on 27 September 2021.
Find out more information in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing recognises and rewards individuals and/or teams who demonstrate outstanding commitment to supporting students in reaching their full potential. In particular, it rewards contributions to students’ wellbeing in relation to academic life.
Award criteria
Applicants are required to address all four criteria below:
- Development of resources, activities, and/or services that help students manage challenges related to academic life.
- Sustained teacher presence (online or face-to-face) that provides learning support, offers multiple opportunities for teacher-student interaction and results in high levels of student satisfaction.
- Commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful environment where students with diverse identities, circumstances and backgrounds feel safe and supported.
- Teaching practices or activities that foster social connections and a sense of belonging amongst student cohorts.
Award: $5,000 (subject to tax)
Number of awards: One.
To submit an application for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing:
Download and fill in this form
Submit the form and supporting documents via email to: [email protected]
The submission deadline is COB on 27 September 2021.
Find out more information in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning recognise programs and services that make innovative and outstanding contributions to the quality of student learning and the student learning experience at UNSW. This year, the Program Awards are open for team nominations only.
There are six categories of Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning. Applicants must identify one category they are addressing.
- Widening participation
- Educational partnerships and collaborations
- Innovation in curriculum design and pedagogy practice encompassing innovations in curricula
- Postgraduate education encompassing programs that focus on enhancing
- Student experiences and learning support services
- Global citizenship and internationalisation
More information relating to the categories is located in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
Award criteria
Nominations for Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning will be assessed on evidence provided in relation to all the following four criteria:
- Distinctiveness, coherence and clarity of purpose:
Extent to which the program has clear objectives and systematic approaches to coordination, implementation and evaluation. - Influence on student learning and the student experience:
Extent to which the program targets identified needs and directly or indirectly enhances student learning, student engagement and/or the overall student experience of higher education. - Breath of impact:
Extent to which the program has led to widespread benefits for students and their learning beyond the original context in which the program was implemented. - Addressing equity, diversity and inclusion:
Extent to which the program promotes and supports equity and inclusiveness by improving access, participation and outcomes for diverse student groups.
Award: $2,000 (subject to tax)
Number of awards: up to two, and one should recognise postgraduate coursework teaching.
To submit an application for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning:
Download and fill in this form
Submit the form and supporting documents via email to: [email protected]
The submission deadline is COB on 27 September 2021.
Find out more information in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
The Heinz Harant Award for Teaching Innovation
This special award is made in memory of the late Heinz Harant, one of the University’s earliest alumni and dedicated supporters, who after graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering devoted many years of service to student life on campus and was instrumental in founding the University’s Alumni Association.
In recognition of Heinz Harant’s personal commitment to innovation and change, this special award recognises individuals whose innovation has fundamentally challenged orthodoxy in teaching in their disciplinary context.
Award: additional $3,000 (subject to tax)
Number of awards: one award available if recommended by the Central Committee
Find out more information in the UNSW Awards for Teaching - 2021 Guidelines.
FAQ's
General questions on VC Awards
Q: Can I apply for more than one award?
A: The guidelines do not exclude you from applying for multiple awards. However, we strongly recommend focusing on one award as it takes time to produce a high quality application. If you are unsure, please consult with the relevant point of contact in your Faculty to talk through which one you could make a stronger case for.
Q: I am confused about the Teaching Excellence and the Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning categories. What is the difference?
A: Award criteria are the same. However, applicants for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching must address all four criteria whereas applicants for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning only need to address one of the four criteria.
Q: Should I be nominated by someone else, or should I nominate myself?
A: All awards are self-nomination awards, except the Heinz Harant award. The Heinz Harant award is subject to the discretion of the central selection committee, no nomination form is required.
Q: I am not sure if I am considered an Early Career academic. Does my experience as a sessional academic count?
A: As per the guidelines, Early Career refers to teachers with less than five years cumulative experience teaching in higher education institutions. This includes sessional teaching.
Q: Should my evidence focus on a single course?
A: No. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on their teaching as a whole.
Q: What is the minimum length of time for the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing?
A: As per the guidelines, the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing are awarded to academic, professional and sessional staff who have made outstanding contributions to student wellbeing over a period of at least two sessions/terms.
Q: I have recently implemented new initiatives, which are still evolving and in development. I do not have a lot of evidence of sustainability or longevity. Is that going to impact my application?
A: If you do not have substantial evidence of sustained impact, we recommend applying for an award in a subsequent year. This will allow you to collect more evidence and develop a stronger application.
Q: Should a person applying for a VC Teaching Excellence award discussing 5 or more years of teaching have to apply for the Sustained Excellence category?
A: You can still apply for the VC Teaching Excellence category (which has more awards available).
Q: What are award criteria and assessment criteria?
A: Award criteria can be thought of topic areas which you need to respond to. Assessment criteria are items that score how strong your case is based on impact, recognition, creativity/imagination/innovation.
Supporting material
Q: What supporting material can I use in my application?
A: The type of supporting materials used can vary depending on the award and these are stipulated in the guidelines. You can also find more information here to help you gather evidence of your teaching practice.
Q: When including student feedback like emails, should I de-identify students?
A: If you are using solicited or unsolicited evidence such as emails, we suggest that you remove names. If evidence comes from students, we recommend that you use the anonymous word “Student” and provide the course and year.
Q: Do I need to include a summative peer review report in my application?
A: Applicants are not required to include a summative peer review of teaching report in their application. You can however refer to comments from your summative peer review as evidence.
Q: I know that one of the reference letters should be written by my Head of School (or equivalent). What about the second reference letter?
A: The second reference letter should be written by the person who can provide the strongest support for the application. The second letter can be written by a student if they can make a strong case supporting the application.
Q: Does the HoS and other reference letter get sent separately to LNTgrants email or by the applicant?
A: Applicants need to send all documentation.