Nominations for the University of Otago Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards
Applications for individuals or teaching teams are due by 5pm, Wednesday 5 February 2025 for the University of Otago Awards for Excellence in Teaching, and to be a nominee for Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards.
Applicants who have not previously received an Otago Award can apply for an Otago Award. Winning an Otago award is a prerequisite for the National Awards. Otago winners who best meet the criteria for the National awards will be invited to apply. Recent winners of Otago Awards who have not received a National Award can apply to be a nominee for the National Awards.
Applications will be accepted from individuals or teaching groups/teams engaged in any tertiary teaching (distance, clinical, lecturing, tutoring, etc.). Please note that “teachers” includes educators broadly and includes any academic or professional staff who regularly support students with their learning and who may have other titles such as Teaching Fellow, Professional Practice Fellow, trainers, learning support staff, or mentors.
Nominees must have been a tertiary teacher in New Zealand for at least four years equivalent full-time. The University provides peer-support for nominees writing an application for the National Awards.
Otago awards
The University of Otago normally offers up to six Teaching Excellence Awards. There will normally be three in the General Award category, one in the Kaupapa Māori Award category, one in the Pacific Award category, and one Group Award which can be in any of the categories. In any category an award may be given with an endorsement in Distance Teaching or Teaching with Technology.
Nominees submit their CV, their teaching profile and a teaching statement (no more than 2,000 words for individuals and 3,000 words for groups) by the early February closing date. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of March and will receive a certificate and $5,000 to support their learning and teaching.
National awards
All tertiary education organisations can submit up to four nominations, no more than three of which may be in the General category. The national body awards around 10 Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards of $15,000 for individuals and $20,000 for groups. One of the awardees will receive the Prime Minister's Award with an additional $10,000. Winning a University of Otago award is a prerequisite for being a nominee for the National awards. Some Otago winners will be invited to apply for the National awards – those who best meet the criteria for the National Awards will be invited to apply. Date for submission is usually June.
Applicants who have submitted unsuccessfully for a National Award and wish to be nominated again for a National Award, should submit their previous National Award portfolio plus a one-page statement that justifies their re-application for a National Award.
Successful applicants for an Otago Award will be notified by the end of March. If they are also selected to submit for the National Awards in the same year, they will need to prepare the equivalent of a 4,500-word portfolio (which might include audio/visual material), to be submitted by June to Ako Aotearoa. The University provides peer-support for nominees preparing a portfolio for the National Awards.
Application process
University of Otago teachers who are interested in applying should download the application guidelines for the Otago Teaching Awards below.
Applications for nomination by the University of Otago close at 5pm, Wednesday 5 February 2025 and should be emailed as a single PDF.
Email dvc.academic@otago.ac.nz
If you have questions about the application process or want guidance for writing an application, please contact the Deputy Convenor of the Awards Panel, Dr Rebecca Bird.
Email rebecca.bird@otago.ac.nz
Please download and read the award guidelines document below, which explains the process of applying, the criteria, and where to send your application.
Advice for writing an application for an Otago Teaching Excellence Award
- Writing an application takes time, planning and support so start preparing well in advance of the year you will apply.
- Talk to a previous winner about how to apply and how much time to set aside for writing your application (see the list of winners on the teaching awards website). The Kaikōkiri (Educational Network Coordinator) for your division can help put you in contact with previous winners.
- Ask if you can read the application from a past winner (though note the criteria for the award may have changed). Pay attention to the tone and language used, as a teaching award application is different from other academic writing.
- For your application you need examples that show what you do and how you do it. Keep a list outlining the key things you do in your teaching, why you do this and how this leads to excellent student learning.
- Read “Using evidence in your self-evaluation of teaching statement” which is a section in the Guide to the Otago Teaching Profile. This explains how you might use evidence to back up your claims to excellent teaching.
A Guide to the Otago Teaching Profile (PDF) - Provide all the documents asked for in the award guidelines.
Contact
Dr Rebecca Bird
Email rebecca.bird@otago.ac.nz