Australian Awards for University Teaching

The Australian Awards for University Teaching are external to ACU. They were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching. They are now managed by Universities Australia through a team based at RMIT University.

The standard of evidence required for any citation or award is very high. We recommend that you should be a successful applicant of an ACU citation or award before you apply for an AAUT citation or award.

There are 4 AAUT award types:

1. Citations: Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (up to 100 citations across 7 subcategories, a maximum of 6 applicants per institution)
2. Program Awards: Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning (up to 6 awards, one award in each of 6 subcategories, a maximum of 2 applicants per institution)
3. Teaching Awards: Awards for Teaching Excellence (up to 7 awards, one award in each of 7 subcategories, a maximum of 3 applicants per institution)

and:

4. The Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year. (This premier university teaching award is given to one of the Teaching Award recipients with an exceptional record of advancing student learning, educational leadership and scholarly contribution to learning and teaching. You cannot apply for this award directly.)

How to apply

ACU staff interested in applying for national teaching awards are encouraged to look at the awards information on the Universities Australia site.

ACU is an eligible institution, and so, nomination is open to you if you are an academic, general or sessional staff member (full-time or fractional, continuing or contract).

If you wish to apply for an AAUT, it is important that you understand that your application will go through several phases to obtain the necessary institutional endorsement.

Steps to submission

1. Whilst LTC calls for nominations from Faculties each year, staff are encouraged to pro-actively seek a nomination through discussing their application with their respective supervisor, and/or the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching (or equivalent) and/or the Exec Dean. Self-nominated applications will not be accepted.
2. If nomination endorsed, download and complete the appropriate nomination form from the AAUT website. Email completed nomination form through to awards&grants.LTC@acu.edu.au by Monday 5th July 2021. Note: leave the DVC (Academic) signature block blank, however complete remaining sections. If unable to email by 5th July 2021 and still wish to apply email awards&grants.LTC@acu.edu.au.
3. Complete draft application and seek peer review (e.g. Learning & Teaching Centre, colleagues, past winners). Seek referee reports and arrange digital photograph. If nomination requires updating, email updated nomination to awards&grants.LTC@acu.edu.au by COB Monday 2nd August 2021. 
4. Learning & Teaching Centre review application and circulate to ACU Awards & Grants panel for consideration. 
5. ACU Awards & Grants panel will convene Tuesday 10th August 2021 to determine applicant’s institutional endorsement. Endorsed applicants will be notified by Friday 13th August 2021 and proceed through following stages. Learning & Teaching Centre to notify AAUT of formal nominations, including signature of DVC(EI) or nominee. 
6. Endorsed applicants will have three weeks to finalise their application. Final applications to be emailed to awards&grants.LTC@acu.edu.au by Friday 3rd September 2021.
7. Learning & Teaching Centre review in line with AAUT’s requirements and upload to AAUT website on Tuesday 14th September 2021.

If you have any queries about AAUT applications, please email awards&grants.LTC@acu.edu.au.

Past AAUT/OLT awards: Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (PDF, 149 KB)