• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines
• Part A - Roles and Responsibilities
• Nominator(s)
• Nominee(s)
• Division of Corporate Strategy and Services
• Award Panels
• Part B - Preparation of the Submission
• Part C - Description of Each Award Category
• UWS Excellence in Teaching Award
• Selection Criteria
• UWS Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
• Citation and Selection Criteria
• Part D - Supporting Evidence
• Part E - Expenditure and Acquittal
• Part F - Enquiries and Submission of Applications

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) This document provides guidance and further explanation in relation to the UWS Learning and Teaching Awards:

1. UWS Excellence in Teaching
2. UWS Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

(2) The guidelines should be read in conjunction with the UWS Awards for Learning and Teaching Policy and the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Awards Policy.

Section 2 - Definitions

(3) Nil

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(4) Refer to the UWS Learning and Teaching Awards Policy.

Section 4 - Procedures

(5) Nil

Section 5 - Guidelines

Part A - Roles and Responsibilities

Nominator(s)

(6) The nominator's responsibilities are to:

1. ensure that the proposed nominee is willing to accept nomination;
2. complete the nomination form;
3. ensure in advance that the relevant Dean /Executive Director / Director / Deputy Vice-Chancellor / Pro Vice-Chancellor / unit head is willing and able to support the nomination, and co-ordinate the process to obtain this signed endorsement;
4. if required, seek support and advice in preparing the submission from others who are familiar with the nominees work and/or with the processes of the award scheme;
5. gather and assemble all parts of the submission; and
6. copy and send the submission to the contact officer by the stated deadline.

Nominee(s)

(7) The nominee's responsibilities are to:

1. Decide whether to accept nomination; and
2. If required, provide information to the nominator in the preparation of the submission

Division of Corporate Strategy and Services

(8) Refer to UWS Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Awards Guidelines.

Award Panels

(9) The Award Panel's responsibilities are to:

1. consider nominations and make recommendations; and
2. make further enquiries where necessary, ensuring that enquiries are of a factual nature of the nomination, and not personal enquiries of the nominee, respecting the privacy of the nominee; and
3. recommend one UWS Excellence in Teaching winner for the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award.

(10) The relevant Dean, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Executive Director, and Director is responsible to:

1. endorse nominations; and
2. approve expenditures against Award budgets ensuring compliance with relevant UWS policies/procedures.

(11) The Vice-Chancellor or nominee is responsible to:

1. Consider one of the four UWS Excellence in Teaching award winners recommended by the UWS Awards panel for the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award.

Part B - Preparation of the Submission

(12) Nominees are encouraged to begin preparing the submission as early as possible, and to seek feedback from colleagues and/or staff in support units of the University.

Part C - Description of Each Award Category

(13) Listed below is some information that may assist nominees and nominators to decide which category would be appropriate. Nominees may apply for EITHER a UWS Citation for Outstanding Contributions for Student Learning OR a UWS Excellence in Teaching Award.

UWS Excellence in Teaching Award

(14) This Award supports the work done by academic staff in providing outstanding learning experiences for students. The selection criteria used in this category are identical to those of the Office of Learning and Teaching (previously Australian Learning and Teaching Council). In most cases, successful candidates in this category will be encouraged to articulate to external Awards.

Selection Criteria

(15) Nominees for UWS Excellence in Teaching awards and the VC's Excellence in Teaching award address the following five criteria for assessment. Nominations will be assessed on evidence provided in relation to the five criteria.

1. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn.
   1. This may include fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in learning; contributing to the development of students' critical thinking skills, analytical skills and scholarly values; encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and motivating students through high-level communication, presentation and interpersonal skills; and enabling others to enhance their approaches to learning and teaching.
2. Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field.
   1. This may include developing and presenting coherent and imaginative resources for student learning; implementing research-led approaches to learning and teaching; demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the curriculum and the creation of resources for learning; communicating clear objectives and expectations for student learning; providing support to those involved in the development of curricula and resources; and contributing professional expertise to enhance curriculum or resources.
3. Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning.
   1. This may include integrating assessment strategies with the specific aims and objectives for student learning; providing timely, worthwhile feedback to students on their learning; using a variety of assessment and feedback strategies; implementing both formative and summative assessment; adapting assessment methods to different contexts and diverse student needs and learning styles; and contributing professional expertise to enhance assessment and/or feedback.
4. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals. This may include participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students; assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups to participate and achieve success in their courses; and influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.
5. Scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching.
   1. This may include showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice; participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and teaching; coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning; conducting and publishing research related to teaching; and demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession.

(16) The five criteria will be given equal consideration by the Award Panel. In assessing nominations against the five criteria, the Panel will take into account the:

1. extent to which the claims for excellence are supported by formal and informal evaluation.
2. extent of creativity, imagination or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments.
3. information contained in references and selected supporting materials submitted by the nominee.

UWS Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

(17) This Award supports the work done by permanent, fixed term, full or part-time and casual academic and professional staff who have been employed at UWS for a minimum of one year and have made a significant contribution to student learning in a specific area of responsibility and who are widely recognised for their achievements. The criteria used in this category are identical to those of the Office for Learning and Teaching. In most cases, successful candidates in this category will be encouraged to articulate to external awards.

Citation and Selection Criteria

(18) A concise (maximum 25 words) citation will describe the distinctive contribution of the nominee(s). The individual citations are unique and reflect the diversity of ways in which staff contribute to excellent learning and teaching.

(19) Nominees for UWS Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning are invited to select one of the following criteria for assessment, as appropriate for their particular contribution. Nominations will be assessed on evidence provided in relation to the selected criterion.

1. Approaches to the support of learning and teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn. This may include fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in learning; contributing to the development of students' critical thinking skills, analytical skills and scholarly values; encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and motivating students through high-level communication, presentation and interpersonal skills; and enabling others to enhance their approaches to learning and teaching.
2. Development of curricula, resources and services that reflect a command of the field. This may include developing and presenting coherent and imaginative resources for student learning; implementing research-led approaches to learning and teaching; demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the curriculum and the creation of resources for learning; communicating clear objectives and expectations for student learning; providing support to those involved in the development of curricula and resources; and contributing professional expertise to enhance curriculum or resources.
3. Approaches to assessment, feedback and learning support that foster independent learning. This may include integrating assessment strategies with the specific aims and objectives for student learning; providing timely, worthwhile feedback to students on their learning; using a variety of assessment and feedback strategies; implementing both formative and summative assessment; adapting assessment methods to different contexts and diverse student needs and learning styles; and contributing professional expertise to enhance assessment and/or feedback.
4. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals. This may include participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students; assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups to participate and achieve success in their courses; and influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.
5. Scholarly activities and service innovations that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching. This may include showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice; participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and teaching; coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning; conducting and publishing research related to teaching; and demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession.

(20) In assessing nominations against the chosen criterion, the Awards Panel will take into account the extent to which nominees show evidence that their contribution has:

1. influenced student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience;
2. been sustained over a period of one to three years; and
3. gained recognition from fellow staff, the institution, and/or the broader community.

Part D - Supporting Evidence

(21) (Documentary evidence is necessary to support nominations. Generally, documentary evidence is required to be current (between one to three years). For all Award categories, the following key and other supporting evidence can be given to support nominations.

(22) Examples of forms of documentary evidence of positive outcomes:

1. Benchmarking services against external providers of similar services (for example, in other universities).
2. Additional letters of support.
3. Testimonials.
4. A short curriculum vitae.
5. Client satisfaction surveys.
6. Feedback from student cohorts or other recipients of initiatives supporting claims of positive outcomes, gathered from whole cohort or group (rather than selected individual testimonial) through formal surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc.
7. Outcomes of student learning, for example, grades, examiners' reports, etc.
8. Comparisons of experience, results, etc. between pre-intervention and post-intervention.
9. Improvements in achieving key performance indicators, for example, retention and progression rates of students.
10. Peer review feedback on processes developed or documentary materials produced.
11. Evidence of uptake by others of the nominees' initiatives.
12. Public recognition of excellence, for example prizes and awards received, refereed conference presentations and publications both nationally and internationally, features in broadcast media, and so on.

(23) Other supporting documentary evidence of positive outcomes:

1. Individual testimonials from students, staff, community members, etc.
2. Evidence of targeted mentoring and leadership of others, for example through providing development and networking opportunities to others relevant to the area.
3. Documentary materials produced as part of an initiative.
4. Invitations to disseminate outcomes of initiatives to colleagues within or beyond the initiating individual or team.

Part E - Expenditure and Acquittal

(24) Examples of reasonable expenditure of the award include:

1. Further professional development of individuals, for example:
   1. costs (for example travel, accommodation, registration fees) associated with attendance at a conference or other professional gathering;
   2. costs of attendance at training and development programs (for example residential organisational development and leadership programs);
   3. attendance at external workshops or seminars not usually conducted by units within the University and that are relevant to the needs of the University.
      1. Contribution towards the purchase of equipment, including texts and electronic equipment useful to the completion of their professional studies.
      2. Costs associated with visits to industrial, professional or educational establishments.
2. Further development of project initiatives acknowledged by the Award, for example:
   1. minor equipment or other materials related to project initiative(s).
   2. funds towards the employment of casual staff to undertake specific project development work.
3. Donation to registered charity.
4. Contribution to superannuation.

(25) Award funds are normally expected to be spent within one calendar year from receipt of funds. Under certain circumstances, where there is reasonable justification, recipients may formally request in writing for an extension for a specified period in which funds may be spent. Requests should be sent to the Office Manager, HR Strategy and Services, who will seek approval from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and University Provost.

Part F - Enquiries and Submission of Applications

(26) Submissions must be lodged with the Office Manager, HR Strategy and Services, Division of Corporate Strategy and Services, Building AE, Werrington North Campus, by the closing date.

(27) A hard-copy of the original plus seven hard-copies of the submission must be lodged. However, in order to meet the closing date deadline, applicants may lodge submissions electronically via email, and subsequently forward the original and copies in hard copy versions including signatures.