Study in Australia

Australian Awards for University Teaching

In response to the short article in the Campus Morning Mail (13 May 2021). we assure you that the 2021 round of Australian Awards for University Teaching is definitely going ahead as planned.
Please continue to encourage your brightest and best teaching academics and teaching teams to apply. We are anticipating an increase in applications across all award categories after the many novel, innovative and creative pedagogical practices during the 2020 COVID year.
We will continue to keep you updated and support you through this process this year.
Professor Angela Carbone
AAUT Awards Team Director

Welcome to 2021 AAUT round.  We are excited that the awards scheme is running this year to recognise the extraordinary work of our academics.

This year, we are making a few changes to the awards. This includes:

  • The Teaching and Citation categories have been reclassified to be better aligned with the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) Fields of Education.
  • Citations will include multi-disciplinary and sessional staff categories based on the feedback from the 2020 round.
  • Program awards have been streamlined from six to four categories.
  • The Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education is now only available for Indigenous teaching staff.

Our focus for 2021 will be to increase the number of nominations in the categories of Early Career and Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education. We encourage universities to widely promote these awards in their institution by utilising the range of marketing brochures listed under promotional resources, and to continuously support academics in their applications.

We look forward to another year of celebration with you.

Professor Angela Carbone
AAUT Awards Team Director

About AAUT

The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching. Since then, the Awards have become a valued form of recognition for university educators Australia wide.

The AAUT recognise the impact that educators have on the learning and teaching experiences and outcomes of university students. They celebrate and reward programs and practices that support students and enhance learning. They promote excellence in learning and teaching in all aspects of higher education. Recipients, with the support of their institutions, contribute to systemic change in learning and teaching through the ongoing sharing and dissemination of knowledge.

This year, there are five award types promoting and recognising excellence in learning and teaching.

  • Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
  • Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning
  • Awards for Teaching Excellence
  • Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year
  • Career Achievement Award

2021 AAUT Key Dates

TasksDates
Release Nomination PackFriday 30 April 2021
Neville Bonner Award Nominees Registration via online formMonday 31 May 2021
Nominee RegistrationMonday 16 to Friday 27 August 2021
Submission UploadMonday 6 to Friday 17 September 2021

Contact Details

AAUT Awards Team [email protected]

Award Types

Citations for outstanding contributions to student learning (Citations)

Citations recognise and reward the diversity of contributions made by individuals and teams to the quality of student learning. They are awarded to individuals or teams who have contributed to the quality of student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a sustained period, whether they are academic staff, general staff, sessional staff or institutional associates.

In 2021, up to 100 citations will be awarded across the categories below:

Discipline categories

  • Natural and Physical Science, Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
  • Engineering, Information Technology, Architecture and Building
  • Health
  • Education
  • Business, Management and Commence
  • Society and Culture
  • Creative Arts
  • Multi-disciplinary

Nomination categories

  • Early Career (For academics with less than five years teaching experience in higher education institutions)
  • Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education (For Indigenous teaching staff only)
  • Sessional staff

Maximum of six Citation submissions per institution.

Awards for programs that enhance learning (Program Awards)

Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning recognise learning and teaching programs and services that make innovative and outstanding contributions to student learning outcomes and the quality of the student experience. They are awarded to programs and services that have set high standards for learning and teaching activities in Australian higher education institutions. Program award is open to team nominations only.

In 2021, up to four awards will be granted across the categories below:

  • Student experience that supports diversity and inclusive practices.
  • Collaborative educational partnerships in learning and teaching.
  • Curriculum transformation and innovative pedagogy.
  • Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs that value and enhance student employability.

Maximum of two Program Awards submissions per institution across all categories.

Awards for teaching excellence (Teaching Awards)

Awards for Teaching Excellence recognise Australia’s most outstanding university teachers who have demonstrated excellent leadership through sustained commitment to innovation, delivery of quality teaching and sustained dedication to improving the student experience and learning outcomes.

In 2021, up to nine awards will be granted across the categories below:

Discipline categories

  • Natural and Physical Science, Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
  • Engineering, Information Technology, Architecture and Building
  • Health
  • Education
  • Business, Management and Commence
  • Society and Culture
  • Creative Arts

Nomination categories

  • Early Career (For academics with less than five years teaching experience in higher education institutions)
  • Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education (For Indigenous teaching staff only)

Maximum of three Teaching Awards submissions per institution across all categories.

Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year

The Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year is the premier university teaching award. Among the Teaching Award recipients, one individual with an exceptional record of advancing student learning, educational leadership and scholarly contribution to learning and teaching will be awarded the Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year.

Career Achievement Award

In 2020, Universities Australia has reinstated the Career Achievement Award that occasionally awarded to one or more individuals who have met the following criteria:

  • Made an outstanding contribution to learning and teaching.
  • Recognised for the impact they have had on the higher education sector.
  • Achievements had a major influence and left an enduring legacy.
  • Served in higher education capacity for at least 25 years.

How to Nominate

Each nominee is required to prepare a submission consisting of a written statement, and relevant supporting documents. This submission is referred to as a “nomination” Once completed, the Institutional Contact Officer (ICO) is responsible for the online submission of all nominations for their institution. The ICO will be notified of the award outcomes via email.

Eligible Institutions and ICOs

Nomination is open to academic, general and sessional staff (full-time or fractional, continuing or contract) of an Australian institution. Only those institutions listed in Table A and Table B of the Higher Education Support Act (2003) are eligible to nominate for the AAUT.

All nominations must be submitted by your Institutional Contact Officer (ICO). The ICO is the central point of contact for all AAUT related matters. Click here for the updated ICOs list from the eligible institutions.

2021 AAUT Nomination information packs

Resources for Nominees

2020 SANTPEN UPLIFT WORKSHOP

Courtesy of South Australia and Northern Territory Promoting Excellence Network (SANTPEN).

News and Events

2021 AAUT Newsletters

The AAUT Newsletters are available to download:

2020 AAUT Newsletters

The AAUT Newsletters are available to download:

2019 AAUT Newsletters

The 2019 AAUT Newsletters are available to download:

2018 AAUT Newsletters

The 2019 AAUT Newsletters are available to download:

AAUT Promotional Resources

We encourage universities to widely promote these awards in their institution by utilising the range of resources listed below.

AAUT Brochures 

Social Media

Twitter:

@ProfAngeCarbone

@aauniteach

LinkedIn:

Professor Angela Carbone

Follow Universities Australia Twitter and LinkedIn.

Video Series

Briefing Sessions

These sessions provide valuable information and sharing of insights from previous award recipients as well as from those who assess the awards. We encourage all nominees applying to attend these session briefings that are a best fit for their own application, regardless of discipline. They are a unique source of information and will help applicants craft a concise and focused submission.  The meeting details will be sent to ICOs for dissemination to any potential applicants in their institution.  Click on the image for briefing sessions information and use it as promotional material in your institution.

AAUT Briefing Session recordings here.

Past Award Recipients

2018 to 2020 AAUTy Video Series

We are delighted to have the recipients of the 2020, 2019 and 2018 Australian Awards for University Teacher of the Year (AAUTY), sharing their journey of winning the awards and some encouragement to the aspiring applicants.

2020 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Associate Professor Jack Wang, The University of Queensland 

Watch Associate Professor Jack Wang’s acceptance video speech at the 2021 UA Conference

Watch 2020 AAUTY: Associate Professor Jack Wang’s video

2020 AAUTY video transcript

2019 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

2019 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

The Psychology of Criminal Justice, The University of Queensland
Watch 2019 AAUTY: The Psychology of Criminal Justice’s video
2019 AAUTY video transcript
Read team profile here.

Watch Professor Blake McKimmie’s interview at UA Conference Dinner 

2018 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Associate Professor Kevin Larkin, Griffith University 

Watch 2018 AAUTY: Kevin’s video
2018 AAUTY video transcript
Read Kevin’s profile here.

2020 AAUT RECIPIENTS’ Announcement

The 2020 Australian Awards for University Teaching now. The announcement is presented by UA Chair Professor Deborah Terry and Awards Director Professor Angela Carbone.

2020 Awards Announcement video

2020 Awards Recipients List

Agenda:
Welcome
1:58​ Overview of AAUT Assessment Process
4:34​ Announcement of Citations recipients
5:42​ Announcement of Program Awards recipients
7:30​ Announcement of Teaching Awards recipients
9:35​ Announcement of Teacher of the Year recipient
9:57​ Teacher of the Year video
12:13​ Announcement of Career Achievement Award recipient
13:21​ Thank you

Past Award Booklets

Award Ceremonies

We are delighted that the following institutions are hosting a joint state-based ceremony to celebrate the successful citation recipients in 2019-2020.

Date State/s Host by Venue /Virtual Event
16 March 2021WAMurdoch University

(For 2020 recipients)  

WA Ceremony photo link

Fraser Restaurant, Kings park
3 June 2021SA/NTSANTPEN

(Joint ceremony for 2019 and 2020 recipients) 

SA Ceremony photo link

University of South Australia
7 June 2021QLDThe University of Queensland

(Joint ceremony for 2019 and 2020 recipients) 

QLD Ceremony photo link

Brisbane Customs House
17 June 2021NSW/ACTAustralian Catholic University

(Joint ceremony for 2019 and 2020 recipients) 

NSW/ACT Ceremony video link

Virtual Event
27 August 2021VIC/TASSwinburne University of Technology

(Joint ceremony for 2019 and 2020 recipients) 

Virtual Event

Note: These events are by invitation ONLY. More details to come.

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