Australian Learning and Teaching Council (formerly Carrick Institute)
The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching. Each year, outstanding teaching, whether by individuals or teams, is recognised and the achievement celebrated through these awards. These awards are now the responsibility of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC).
In recognition of the changing nature of the higher education sector, and the mission of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council to advance learning and teaching throughout the sector, the range of institutions eligible to nominate for these awards has been broadened. All nominations must, however, relate to learning and teaching activities in higher education. In addition to core elements similar to those of the previous AAUT scheme, the expanded awards scheme includes two new elements: Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning; and Career Achievement Awards. The new elements allow recognition of a wider range of university staff and more diverse contributions to learning and teaching. The four elements of the awards scheme are:
Full details of all awards can be found in the Awards for Australian University Teaching: Guidelines and Nomination Instructions 2008 on the Australian Learning and Teaching Council website. For advice and assistance in relation to the Australian Learning and Teaching Council Awards please contact Learning & Teaching @ UNSW.
Awards for Teaching Excellence and the Prime Minister's Award
Each year the Australian Learning and Teaching Council will confer 26 Awards for Teaching Excellence. These awards celebrate a group of the nation's most outstanding university teachers in their fields. The awards give recognition to teachers (individuals and teams) renowned for the excellence of their teaching, who have outstanding presentation skills and who have made a broad and deep contribution to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching in higher education. The winners of Awards for Teaching Excellence each receive $25,000.
The Prime Minister's Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year is the premier university teaching award. The recipient is selected from nominees for Awards for Teaching Excellence. This award is given to an academic with an exceptional record of advancing student learning, educational leadership and scholarly contribution to teaching and learning. The winner receives $50,000 and a medal.
Categories
There are eight categories of Awards for Teaching Excellence: five discipline categories; a category for Indigenous education; an early career category; and a priority area category. The eight award categories are:
People teaching in new discipline areas and multi-disciplinary fields are invited to identify which discipline category they consider most appropriate.
Full details for the Awards for Teaching Excellence can be found in the ALTC Awards for Australian University Teaching: Guidelines and Nomination Instructions 2008 on the Australian Learning and Teaching Council website. For advice and assistance in relation to the ALTC Awards please contact Learning & Teaching @ UNSW.
Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning
Each year the Australian Learning and Teaching Council will confer 14 Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning. These awards recognise learning and teaching support programs and services that make an outstanding contribution to the quality of student learning and the quality of the student experience of higher education. The programs and services that receive these awards must have demonstrated their effectiveness through rigorous evaluation and will set benchmarks for similar activities in other institutions.
Categories
There are seven award categories:
Full details for the Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning can be found in the ALTC Awards for Australian University Teaching: Guidelines and Nomination Instructions 2008 on the Australian Learning and Teaching Council website. For advice and assistance in relation to the ALTC Awards please contact Learning & Teaching @ UNSW.
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
Each year the Australian Learning and Teaching Council will award 210 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. These awards recognise and reward the diverse contributions that individuals and teams make to the quality of student learning or the student experience. Citations are awarded to people who have made a significant contribution to student learning or the student experience in a specific area of responsibility, over a sustained period, who are widely recognised for their achievements within the nominating institution, and who have received strong institutional endorsement. Nominations are encouraged from academic staff, general staff, sessional staff and institutional associates. Each winner or winning team receives $10,000.
Team-based nominations from teams that include general staff, such as those who run practicum programs and laboratory managers, are particularly encouraged. General staff traditionally have not collected evidence to support award applications, however these staff are often members of teams that may have the evidence required.
Applicants may self-nominate, or they may be invited to nominate by a colleague or by students. All nominees will need to submit a Nomination Form to Learning & Teaching @ UNSW and attend Citation information and planning sessions.
The 2007 UNSW Citations recipients were Prof Alan Crosky, Prof Mark Hoffman, Prof Paul Munroe, Ms Belinda Allen, Dr Gary Velan, Dr Jacquelyn Cranney, Dr Sue Morris, Dr Branka Spehar, Dr Ben Newell, Ms Pam Mort, Ass Prof Robin Ford, Dr Paul Hagan, Dr Chris Daly and Dr Iain Skinner, Prof Rakesh Kumar, Dr Sean Brawley, Dr Vaughan Rees, Ms Patricia Taylor, Ms Jan McLean, Ms Sue Toohey, Ms Leah Bloomfield, Ms Debbie Owen, Dr Chris Hughes, Dr Lindsay Hewson, Dr Peter Harris, Dr Sue Starfield, Dr Peter Looker, Dr Kerrie Howells, Dr Iain McAlpine.
The 2006 UNSW Citations went to Mr Rick Bennett, Mr Simon McIntyre, Mr Richard Buckland, Ms Shirley Carlon, Dr Dominic Fitzsimmons, Dr Ian Collinson, Dr Monica Kerretts, Mr Geoff Quick, Ms Shivaun Weybury, Mr George Hatsidimitris, Dr Frances Miley, Ms Suzanne Mobbs, Dr Noel Whitaker, Dr Will Rifkin, Helen Dalton, Ms Michelle Kofod, Dr Carmen Moran.
Detailed information about the Citations is available via the Australian Learning and Teaching Council website. If you have any questions or queries about the Citations please contact Learning & Teaching @ UNSW by email or phone the unit on 55989.
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council will periodically award a Career Achievement Award to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to learning and teaching that is recognised throughout the higher education sector. Recipients of this award will receive a signed certificate from the Prime Minister. Nominations will be made by members of the ALTC Board.