UCT Distinguished Teacher Award for 2025/2026
Students and staff are hereby invited to submit nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award for 2025/2026.
The Distinguished Teacher Award recognises excellent teaching and is the highest accolade awarded to teaching staff at all levels within the university. Through the award, the University of Cape Town acknowledges the primary place of teaching and learning in the university’s work. All full-time academic staff who have taught students at the institution for at least three years are eligible.
Criteria
Each year the Distinguished Teacher Award Committee considers nominations made by students and staff on behalf of a number of dedicated teachers. The committee examines each submission in accordance with a set of guidelines, terms of reference and selection criteria, including:
∙reflection on teaching practice
∙versatility in different teaching settings
∙transformational capacities
∙innovation in teaching
∙an influence on students’ career development
∙concern and sensitivity towards the needs of students
∙endorsements from colleagues and students
∙intellectual vigour and communication skills in the interpretation and presentation of subject matter
∙consistently outstanding student evaluations.
The committee may recommend up to four recipients per year and, in exceptional cases, up to six recipients in a year.
To submit a nomination
Nominations should be submitted in the form of an email and should consist of a statement making the case for the award. The email can include:
∙details of excellence in teaching over a number of years
∙information about the nominee’s approach
∙where the strengths of the nominee lie, for example, whether the teacher’s strengths lie in lecturing to large classes, in laboratory instruction, in less formal teaching activities outside the classroom, or in an innovative teaching technique.
Please submit nominations to Amanda Barratt before 22 May 2025/2026.
Upon acceptance of the nomination, nominees will be required to prepare for submission a teaching portfolio of no more than 50 pages, which includes their teaching philosophy, endorsements from students and colleagues, and anonymised student evaluation data for all courses taught for the last three years. Nominees are required to submit their documentation by 7 July 2025/2026.
For further information, please email Amanda or call her on 021 650 2614.
Read the full list of past awardees…
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