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Prestigious higher education awards celebrate teaching excellence

29 Sep 2023 | Advance HE Winners of the 2023 teaching excellence awards celebrate in ceremony at The Library in Birmingham.

New National Teaching Fellows and winners of the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence celebrated in style at the 2023 higher education awards ceremony in Birmingham on 28 September. 

More than 200 winners and guests were treated at The Library on a night that recognises their outstanding contribution to excellent teaching and inspiring colleagues in higher education with two prestigious awards. 

Fifty-five new National Teaching Fellows were awarded under the scheme that celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education.  Find out more about the 2023 National Teaching Fellows here

The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) recognises and rewards collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning and highlights the key role of teamwork in UK higher education. Fifteen teams were awarded in 2023. Find out more about the 2023 CATE winners here.

Winners of the 2023 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme
Winners of the 2023 Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence

In her speech on the night, Alison Johns, Chief Executive, Advance HE, said,  

“It is with enormous pride that we run the NTF and CATE awards for the sector. It’s the sector’s opportunity to recognise excellence in teaching and specifically to say ‘well done and thank you’ to all of the awardees. 

“It is important that approaches to teaching are evidence-led. The work of National Teaching Fellows and CATE winners is clear evidence of what works. Students, of course, will be the ultimate beneficiaries, directly or indirectly, of your innovation and good practice. So these awards, while celebratory are genuinely important in signposting colleagues across the sector to evidence-based good practice.  

“All of us have a leadership role in this regard: Advance HE will disseminate and share the lessons and good practice widely so that we continue to support colleagues effectively as they teach, and students as they learn. We take enormous pride in that work, and we are looking forward to working with the 2023 NTFs and CATE cohorts to make that sharing a reality.” 

Professor Becky Huxley-Binns (NTF, PFHEA), Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Hull, and Chair, UK Teaching Excellence Awards Advisory Panel 2023, in her speech, said,  

“It is my greatest professional privilege to chair the advisory panel which oversees these awards.

“The National Teaching Fellowship and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence reflect the strength of the sector. This year’s winners specifically highlight impact on students in terms of learning and teaching, student progression, student engagement, student experience and employability.  

“There was plentiful evidence of impact on outcomes for students from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds, and evidence of broad reach across the disciplines, across institutions and beyond.” 

There are now 1143 National Teaching Fellows recognised since the scheme’s launch in 2000, and 119 CATEs since the first awards in 2016. 

2024 nominations open!

The nominations for NTFS and CATE 2024 awards are open. All UK higher education providers, who are Full or Associate members of Advance HE, may nominate up to three members of staff who teach and/or support learning in higher education.  Find out more.

We feel it is important for voices to be heard to stimulate debate and share good practice. Blogs on our website are the views of the author and don’t necessarily represent those of Advance HE.

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