The NTFS is open to all Higher Education Providers (HEPs) across the four nations of the UK, including Further Education Colleges and independent ‘alternative’ providers. Each UK HEP is invited to nominate up to three individual members of staff who can clearly demonstrate having an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession. In order to participate in the NTFS, institutions must be Advance HE Full or Affiliate members and based in the UK; participation in the scheme is a benefit of membership, i.e. no additional fee is due for participation.
In selecting up to three individuals to put forward for the scheme, institutions are strongly encouraged to reflect the full diversity of their staff body.
2020 NTFS Winners
Meet the 2020 NTF winners.
Nominations for 2021 are now closed
The purpose of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) is to recognise, reward and celebrate individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.
All UK higher education providers are eligible to enter up to three members of staff that teach and/or support learning in higher education. Successful nominees will be officially announced on 5th August 2021.
Insight into the award criteria video series
We have created a set of videos to guide you through the award criteria for the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme.
Benefits of becoming a National Teaching Fellow
Gaining a National Teaching Fellowship has a number of benefits for individuals and their institutions.
| Benefits to individuals | Benefits to institutions |
|---|---|
| Achieving a National Teaching Fellowship is widely recognised in higher education within the UK as well as internationally as a mark of quality. | Offers an extension to university wide individual recognition schemes, as a means to raise the status of teaching and instil pride in the profession and student outcomes. |
| The award can help ‘open doors’ to new academic or career opportunities. | Showcases the institution’s support of individual teaching excellence and the impact this has on student outcomes. |
| Award winners join a national community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about teaching excellence. | Enables staff to cross boundaries, collaborating with colleagues in other disciplines and areas of work, across institutions nationally and internationally |
NTFS Roadshows
Facilitated by ANTF Committee Events co-ordinator, Prof Debbie Holley, these webinars offer insights and guidance through the NTFS application process.
Past webinars:
“Getting Started”
This webinar covered the new guidance, highlighted useful AdvanceHE resources, and had a closing panel of National Teaching Fellows sharing their journeys.
Date: 15th October 2020
“A conversation with successful NTFs”
This webinar offered a brief re-cap of the scheme and highlighted updates; and featured some personal journeys from existing National Teaching Fellows with a Q&A session.
Date: 4th November 2020
“Institutional/Individual perspectives”
This webinar briefly re-capped the previous two sessions, and the panel included a representative from those tasked with staff development in our institutions, to offer the institutional viewpoint about the scheme.
Date: 3rd December 2020
‘Aspiring NTF: New Year, New Network’
A workshop for those considering applying for the National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) Scheme in 2022 or beyond. Including insights and thoughts from an interdisciplinary panel for using your existing networks, and about targeting and reaching out to new networks, as you build your NTF profile.
Date: 25th February 2021
The Association of National Teaching Fellows
New NTFs will automatically become members of the Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF). This is an active community working to further the impact of the scheme. New NTFs will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other fellows through ANTF events and associated work to further their impact, both individually and collectively.
Past winners
National Teaching Fellows must demonstrate evidence of:
- Individual excellence: of enhancing and transforming student outcomes and/or the teaching profession, demonstrating impact commensurate with the individual’s context and the opportunities afforded by it.
- Raising the profile of excellence: of supporting colleagues and influencing support for student learning and/or the teaching profession; demonstrating impact and engagement beyond the nominee’s immediate academic or professional role.
- Developing excellence: of the nominee’s commitment to and impact of ongoing professional development with regard to teaching and learning and/or learning support.
If you would like to gain some inspiration and find out more about past winners review the Directory of NTFs below.
20 years of NTFS!
2020 marked the 20th anniversary of NTFS. More than 900 National Teaching Fellowships have been awarded since 2000 and to mark this momentous occasion we are celebrating by hearing from NTFS winners from the last 20 years!