Teaching Innovation Awards are one way the University recognises, celebrates and promotes excellence in learning and teaching. These awards are open to all of our learning and teaching community, and we actively welcome applications from students, academic and learning support staff.

For the next iteration of our Teaching Innovation Awards, there is a stronger emphasis on institutional themes that are shaping our current thinking and action around the Education and Student Experience. The emphasis now is therefore on bringing key stakeholders together across disciplines, working in partnership with students, as appropriate, and aligning activity with our strategic priorities to bring about meaningful impact and change. 

Each project team can bid for up to £4,340 to support student involvement for up to eight weeks. Student involvement can be broken down by week at a cost of £542.50. Project teams should detail how the funds will be used in their five minute elevator pitch (see details below). A pool of students will exist to work on the project through the student internship programme and will be assigned to the project if the project is selected. Funding will run from 1st August 2026 until 31st July 2027.

Project teams have the option of submitting a TIA proposal that does not require any funding.

To be considered for a funded TIA*, proposals must: 

1. Be interdisciplinary

Involve staff from at least two Schools and/or professional services where relevant, with one School/Professional Service being nominated as the lead.

2. Include meaningful student involvement (for funded projects*)

Students must be engaged as co-creators, researchers, or evaluators, not just end-users.

3. Include a member of the EAP and/ or the TEL team

Every successful project team must include at least one Enhanced Academic Practice (EAP) or TEL team member as an expert advisor.

4. Outputs and Dissemination:

All projects must be submitted for presentation at the ESE Summit (formerly the Learning and Teaching Conference). In addition, further dissemination could include, but is not limited to the following:

    • A co-authored pedagogic publication (e.g. case study, article, blog, or conference presentation) that contributes to innovation in higher education practice, or
    • Additional practical outputs such as resources, models, frameworks, or curriculum enhancements applicable across the University.

*Non-funded projects should not include a student intern.

5. Align with at least one strategic priority, such as:

    • Future-facing Teaching, Learning & Curriculum Design 

(e.g. anticipatory curriculum models, flexibility, preparing students for emerging futures).

    • Assessment and feedback

(e.g. inclusive assessment, authentic assessment at scale, feedback literacy).

    • Coaching led eco-system

(e.g. developmental feedback, coaching approaches to learning and teaching).

    • 360 portfolio

(e.g. holistic capture of learning, assessment and skills across programmes).

    • Tech-enabled learning and teaching

(e.g. purposeful/ innovative use of digital tools to enhance pedagogy (not technology for its own sake).

    • International student experience

(e.g. inclusive curriculum, belonging, transition, and global learning communities).

    • Student conversations

(e.g. meaningful dialogue, partnership and feedback loops between staff and students).

    • Any NSS area of focus that has institutional wide impact

(e.g. Strategic, scalable enhancements to assessment, feedback, learning community, teaching quality or academic support that address persistent NSS themes).

    • GenerativeAI

(e.g. Purposeful, ethical integration of generative AI to enhance learning, teaching, assessment and feedback, building staff and student AI literacy).

For the Project Outline Proposal Form, you only need to indicate which theme your project aligns with.

6. Be feasible within time and budget

Project activity must be deliverable between specified timescales. Each project team should determine the length of their project and factor in concomitant implementation and review cycles. This may extend beyond the funding period. 

7. Commit to evaluation and dissemination

All projects must include plans for internal and (where relevant) external dissemination in addition to a presentation at the Education and Student Experience Summit (formerly the Teaching and Learning Conference). Project teams will be offered EAP support to determine how best to disseminate the outcomes of their project. 

 

TIA process

Project teams will submit an initial project outline application form which will be considered by ADESEs. Those going through to the selection event will be able to provide more detailed information about the scope and nature of their project in their five-minute pre-recorded elevator pitch at that event. Whilst the pitch is pre-recorded, project teams (or as many of the team as possible) should attend to answer any questions about the project.

The Selection Event is a collaborative, half-day event where shortlisted teams present their recorded 5- minute elevator pitch proposals and are voted on by all participants.

Participants

  • PVCESE
  • Shortlisted project teams
  • ADESEs
  • EAP team members
  • TEL team members
  • LSU representatives
  • Interested staff (e.g. digital, EDI, and curriculum specialists)

Click for the Project Outline application form.

Previous Winners