Strategies for Fostering Excellence in Teaching and Learning

The University of Tasmania is committed to excellence in teaching and learning and aims to be ranked in the top ten nationally in teaching, learning and the student experience [University Plan 2008-10]

The University of Tasmania has an integrated system to reward, recognise and develop the contributions of a wide range of staff to learning and teaching at the University.  Awards, grants and fellowships highlight the unqualified commitment of the University to the creation and maintenance of a high-performance culture that values teaching and research equally.

Applying for an award, grant or fellowship provides staff with an opportunity to reflect on the principles and scholarship that underpins their practice. It also affords supervisors with the opportunity to provide targeted support and professional development opportunities. The receipt of an award, grant or fellowship is a highly valued form of recognition that will assist in career advancement and is acknowledged in the University's academic staff promotion criteria.  It also enhances the reputation of the School/Section, Faculty/Division and the Institution.

The creation and maintenance of a high-performance teaching and learning culture requires the support of all members of the University community.  Teaching and learning leaders and scholars will identify and support high potential colleagues with intensive mentoring and professional development aligned with the goals of the University.  The University will ensure internal expectations and rewards and recognition systems articulate with the requirements and priorities of external bodies, with a particular focus on the Australian Teaching and Learning Council.  Accordingly, the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Awards have been expanded and renamed to facilitate applications for national awards.

The new Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning recognise: approaches to teaching and (to) learning support that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn; the development of curricula, resources and services that reflect a command of the field; approaches to assessment, feedback and learning support that foster independent learning; respect and support for the development of students as individuals; and, scholarly activities and service innovations that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching.  Recipients of these awards are assisted to apply for national recognition or given assistance to develop professional development plans that will enable them to competitively apply for national recognition in the future.  There are three categories of awards:

• Teaching Excellence Awards;
• Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning; and
• Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

The University actively encourages students to acknowledge those who have made a particular contribution to their learning by nominating individuals, teams and programs for Teaching Merit Certificates.  Teaching Merit Certificates are a Faculty-based scheme to recognise teaching members of academic staff who are nominated and judged by their peers and students as being meritorious teachers.  Certificate recipients are also offered assistance to develop professional development plans that will enable them to competitively apply for further recognition.

Teaching Development Grants provide the resources to address issues of emerging and continuing importance.  These issues include, but are not limited to, strategic approaches to learning and teaching that address the increasing diversity of the student body, creative and effective use of teaching and learning spaces, innovation in learning and teaching, including in relation to the role of new technologies; and, collaborative, cross-discipline projects that enhance learning and teaching at the University.  Staff are expected to link grant proposals to current or future University or Australian Learning & Teaching Council project activity.

Teaching Fellowships promote and support excellence in learning by supporting individuals, teams and programs that have the expertise and leadership skills to advance learning and teaching at the University.  Funds are made available to support strategic, high profile activities in areas that support the Mission of the University.  Fellows are encouraged and will be supported to develop applications for the prestigious Australian Teaching & Learning Council Fellowship Scheme.

The provision of dedicated support for the development of awards, grants and fellowship applications by the Awards and Grants Team within the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) further strengthens the professional development opportunities to support a high performance teaching and learning culture and to increase participation.  The University will continue to ensure that recognition and reward systems encourage and celebrate excellence at individual, team and program levels.