What Is It For?
The Senior Distinguished Education Excellence Fellowship is awarded to individuals who have been teaching/supporting learning in HE for more than four years and can demonstrate a sustained body of outstanding practices and leadership that have impacted significantly on students and influenced the practice of peers within the University and the sector. This level of leadership, reach and impact within the wider sector differentiates it from the Distinguished Education Excellence Award.
In particular, the individual’s contribution will be directly related directly related to the Principles that underpin and the Qualities that feature Ulster's learning, teaching and the student experience.
and sector priorities in learning and teaching and will focus on practices that demonstrates highly effective problem solving, influence, enhancement, or innovation in L&T.
The purpose of the award is to recognise, reward and celebrate those who can demonstrate sustained teaching/ supporting learning excellence and to create a proactive learning community within Ulster.
Up to two awards are normally available and the award of £1000 to successful applicants should be used to support the recipients’ CPD in learning and teaching.
Senior Distinguished Education Excellence Fellows will be expected to share their experience and practice with colleagues at Ulster supported by the Learning Enhancement Directorate. They will be expected to provide ongoing leadership in L&T through involvement in Learning Enhancement Directorate initiatives and mentoring colleagues.
Who Is Eligible?
- Any member of staff who teaches or supports learning at Ulster University and has been teaching/ supporting learning in HE for four years or more.
- Applicants should have achieved SFHEA at the time of making their application.
Applicants should provide a 3000-word Reflective Statement on their sustained contribution to excellence in teaching/ learning support demonstrating how they have had a transformative effect on student learning. This should evidence a sustained body of outstanding practices that have impacted significantly on students and influenced the educational practice of peers within Ulster and more widely.
Submissions should be endorsed by the applicant’s Line Manager to confirm the veracity of the claims made within the application.
How Is The Award Judged?
The award scheme is judged by a panel chaired by the Dean of Learning Enhancement and including Associate Dean(s) (Academic Quality and Student Experience), representatives of Learning Enhancement Directorate, the Awards’ Manager, representative University National Teaching Fellows and CATE winners and the President of UUSU.
Criteria
The Assessment Panel will be looking for applicants’ ability to:
- Demonstrate a significant leadership contribution to the Ulster University community and sector as part of this application.
- Show evidence of Individual Excellence: sustained evidence of enhancing and transforming the student learning experience commensurate with the individual’s context and the opportunities afforded by it that demonstrates highly effective leadership, problem solving, enhancement, or innovation in L&T that aligns to University LTSE Principles and Qualities and sector priorities
- Show evidence of Promoting Excellence through influencing the practice of Ulster and sector peers: evidence of supporting colleagues and influencing support for student learning; including demonstrating wide-ranging impact and engagement beyond the applicant’s immediate academic or professional role.
- Show agency and purpose in Developing Excellence: evidence of the applicant’s commitment to her/his ongoing professional development with regard to teaching and learning and/or learning support expertise and leadership.
- Support the claim with strong independent evidence of excellence, such as testimonials (particularly from students), supporting data and/or evidence of reach, value and impact – (evidence should be integrated throughout the claim and contributes to the word count.)
- Be underpinned by relevant references to the professional knowledge base in HE academic practice as evidence of scholarship in learning and teaching.
When to apply
- Applications should be received by next deadline 10th January 2025 by noon
- Submission as a single PDF File via the Award Dropbox on BBL.