Teaching Awards

The Innovative Teaching Award and Distinguished Teaching Award.

Teaching Catalyst Award

This Award recognises teaching and learning initiatives by early career art and/or design academic staff that engage with contemporary challenges in higher education, and/or challenge existing pedagogies, and/or address the diversity of staff and student communities.
(Note: Generally, early career is within the first five years of teaching).

Please email admin@acuads.com.au to request a nomination form.

Nomination Process

Self or peer nominations are welcomed with endorsement by Heads of School (or equivalent), and should comprise:

  • A two-page evidence-based statement in the format provided addressing the selection criteria for the Award.
  • Evidence may be in the form of a pilot or case study, institutional recognition or peer review, awards, and/or teaching metrics.
  • The nominee’s two-page CV, with attention to achievements relevant to the selection criteria in the area of learning and teaching.

Selection Criteria

  1. Description and explanation of course design, delivery and/or assessment that engages with new methodologies and/or approaches that improve learning and teaching in art and/or design.
  2. Evidence of how the methodology/ies and/or approach/es benefited teaching and student experience in art and/or design in contemporary higher education.
  3. Evidence may include student feedback metrics and student achievements on completing the course – such as employment, grant applications, exhibitions, consultancies – sustained over not less than three years, relative to career opportunity.
  4. Active contribution to scholarship/s of learning and teaching, such as through conference presentation, journal publication, book chapters.

Deadline and Submission

The closing date for submission of the 2025 ACUADS Awards is Monday 6 October 2025 (extended deadline).

For all queries and to request a nomination form, please contact Lucy Weekes, Executive Officer, ACUADS admin@acuads.com.au.

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Excellence in Teaching

This Award recognises outstanding teaching by established tertiary art and/or design academic staff. Excellence may be demonstrated through sustained commitment to one or more of the following: innovative teaching practices, effective development and delivery of high-quality education, engagement with contemporary challenges in higher education, challenging traditional methods, addressing issues of diversity among staff and/or students.

Candidates should show a consistent record of their achievements over time. Mid-career art or design academic staff are encouraged to apply.

To request a nomination form, please email admin@acuads.com.au.

Nomination Process

Self or peer nominations are welcomed with endorsement by Heads of School (or equivalent), and should comprise:

  • A two-page evidence based statement in the format provided that addresses the selection criteria for the Award.
  • Evidence which may include examples, awards, teaching metrics, student feedback, peer engagement, institutional or other recognition, external peer review, contributions to leadership.
  • The nominee’s two-page CV, with attention to achievements relevant to the selection criteria in the area of learning and teaching.

Selection Criteria

  1. Description and explanation of course and/or program design, delivery and/or assessment that develops new methodologies and/or approaches that improve learning and teaching in art and/or design have been sustained over time.
  2. Evidence of positive impact on teaching and student experience in art/or design in contemporary higher education, e.g. student feedback metrics, student achievements on completing the course/program – such as employment, grant applications, exhibitions, consultancies – sustained over not less than five years.
  3. Proven experience of contributions to the scholarship/s of learning and teaching, academic debate and/or policy development, and innovation within their institution and beyond.

Deadline and Submission

The closing date for submission of the 2025 ACUADS Awards is Monday 6 October 2025 (extended deadline).

For all queries and to request a nomination form, please contact Lucy Weekes, Executive Officer, ACUADS admin@acuads.com.au.

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