Teaching Awards

Explore teaching award opportunities for ABP staff across Faculty, University, National, and International levels. Learn how to prepare strong nominations by gathering evidence of impact, innovation, and reflection throughout the year.

Teaching Awards

Overview

The Teaching Awards page provides information on Learning and Teaching Excellence Awards relevant to ABP teaching staff, grouped into Faculty, University, National, International and Disciplinary categories. These awards are offered through various procedures and pathways and provide ABP staff opportunities to have their teaching practices recognised and celebrated.

It is wise to collect evidence of your teaching innovations throughout the year for PDR discussions, and in relation to the ABP Academic Performance Expectations. Of course, evidence is also important to include in award nomination submissions!  This may include:

  • Learning and teaching innovations, including the design and impact on students' learning experiences;
  • Process for execution of the learning and teaching innovation, including collaborations with students, colleagues and/or external communities;
  • Use of educational technologies and/or enhancement of curricula and/or teaching approaches;
  • Students survey data such as ESS/MSS, and/or assessment outputs and reviews from colleagues or external parties in relation to the innovation; and
  • Reflections on the successes, impact and influence of the learning and teaching innovation, personal learning, and any further planned development.
  • The reflection by the teacher on the extent of success, impact and influence of the learning and teaching innovation.

ABP Staff who are considering applying for an award are welcome to contact BEL+T at abp-belt@unimelb.edu.au to talk through the application process. If there are other awards that you think could be shared on these pages, please let us know.

Disciplinary

These awards, offered by various professional peak bodies, acknowledge and recognise the impact of excellent teaching by academics in various built environment disciplines.

AwardDescriptionGeographic Scale
Architecture
AASA Education Prize for Early Career Academics Celebrates innovative learning and teaching practices of emerging academic staff in the Australasia region. This year's award will focus on excellence in digital and online learning pedagogy. National
Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize Recognises the significance of architectural education in the promotion and improvement of the built environment and outstanding contribution in the area of teaching, scholarship, research, leadership and community engagement in both higher education and the wider community. National
Construction
F E Crowle Award for Teaching Excellence Recognises initiatives that show innovation in the way curriculum has been developed, delivered and assessed with significant positive impact through leadership development of learners and value of their work on the community beyond higher education. National
Property
The American Real Estate Society Award for Real Estate Education Award for papers presented at the annual meeting in the category of Real Estate Education. A cash prize of US$1000 accompanies the award. International

Please note that the submission deadlines can change from year to year. Please check the relevant award website for details.

Faculty

The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning recognises outstanding contributions in teaching excellence through the Faculty’s annual teaching awards.

The awards recognise sustained improvement or impact on the quality of students' learning experiences, and the relevance of subject content and skills. Nominees are assessed on evidence they provide in relation to the criteria stipulated in the call for submitting EOIs for the Faculty Awards each year. These awards are offered once annually after completion of the first semester. The winner(s) of the ABP Teaching Awards are announced at the annual Faculty function and acknowledged at the Dean’s Honours Awards Ceremony.

AwardDescription
Open Award for Excellence in Teaching This award recognises teaching excellence across curricula development, assessment and delivery, and the support of students’ capacity to learn.
Sessional Teaching Excellence Award  This award acknowledges and celebrates the valuable contributions of a sessional teaching staff member toward enhancing students' learning experiences.
Student's Choice Award This award acknowledges and celebrates the valuable contributions of a teaching staff member toward enhancing students' learning experiences, as recognised by the student body.
Teaching Innovation Excellence Award Initiatives by individuals or teams that support professional development of ABP teaching staff.

Please note that the submission deadlines can change from year to year. Please check the relevant award website for details.

Eligibility and Process for Participation

  • All staff members of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning are eligible for nomination. Nominees may be individuals or teams. Past winners of the ABP teaching awards are eligible to apply for this award provided their submission is based on a different portfolio of work than that used for a previous award.

    1. Nominees to complete a ABP Staff Excellence Awards Nomination Form accessible via the staff intranet ABP Staff Awards page.
    2. The application includes a 500-word summary of the nominee's initiatives according to a maximum of two criteria from the Teaching Excellence Awards Selection Criteria. Further details regarding the Selection Criteria can be viewed on the ABP Staff Awards Nomination Guidelines accessible via the staff intranet ABP Staff Awards page.
    3. Up to 5 pages of attachments can be provided in support of the application (optional).
    4. The application needs to be supported by a nominated member of the Faculty Executive or senior management team and submitted to the Office of the Dean and Executive Director by the closing date.
    5. Completed nominations, as a single PDF file, are to be emailed to abp-dean@unimelb.edu.au by 5pm Tuesday, 24 October 2023.
    6. In assessing nominations, the Selection Panels will take into account evidence of claims against the nominated criteria (including peer feedback, and other forms of recognition). Further details regarding the Selection Process can be viewed on the ABP Staff Awards Nomination Guidelines accessible via the staff intranet ABP Staff Awards page.
    7. The final determination for the award of each prize rests with the Faculty’s Honours & Prizes Committee.

Timeline

Mid-Semester 2 2025

Call for nominations

End of Year 2025

Nominations are judged by a selection committee for each award category.

Mid-Semester 1 2026

Winners are announced at the annual Faculty function and acknowledged at the Dean's Honours Award Ceremony.

University

The University-level awards acknowledge and celebrate the work of committed, talented and innovative staff annually.

AwardDescription
Melbourne Teaching Excellence Awards
Award for Excellence and Innovation in Indigenous Higher Education Recognises excellence and innovation in the development of curriculum and higher education programs where the subject matter relates to Indigenous Australians. The award is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff.
Edward Brown Award for Teaching Excellence University-wide annual teaching award that recognises overall teaching excellence.
Norman Curry Award for Innovation and Excellence in Educational ProgramsThis award is open to individuals and teams providing projects or services relating to teaching and learning within any organisation unit of the University.
Award for Excellence in Internationalisation of the CurriculumThis award recognises outstanding contributions to internationalising the curriculum, including either innovative use of international content or global expertise in subject content, or efforts to enhance engagement and interaction between different cohorts of students on campus.
Universitas 21 Awards
Universitas 21 Fellowship for Academic Staff Recognises outstanding teaching performance, and provides development opportunities for the recipients. Provided to a University of Melbourne academic staff at Level B or higher.

Eligibility and Process for Participation

  • The University of Melbourne Excellence Awards are open to all University of Melbourne academic and professional staff in continuing, contract or sessional roles.  Applicants should have been working at the University for at least two years. Applications from early-career staff are encouraged.

    Eligibility for the Universitas 21 Fellowship is limited to academic staff of the University of Melbourne at levels B and above.

  • The process for participation in the 2023 Melbourne Teaching Excellence Awards is as follows: The award application opens in July. Applicants prepare and submit a written application, and the Application Cover Sheet must contain an endorsement from the relevant Dean of Faculty, Head of School or Head of Department. Applications close at the end of August, and award winners are announced in Mid-October. Following this, award winners are celebrated at the Excellence Awards Ceremony in Early December.

    For the Universitas 21 Fellowship, Heads of Departments are responsible for identifying potential applicants. Staff may, however, initiate applications through discussion with their head of Department.

  • University of Melbourne Excellence Awards

    Universitas 21 Awards

State / National / International

These awards recognise innovation and achievement of academics in university education at the state and/or national level.

AwardDescription Geographic Scale
Victorian International Education Awards
International Student of the Year There are multiple categories for this award for students who have enhanced the learning experience and engagement of international students. State
Excellence in International Education - University There are seven Provider Awards for which institutions can apply. Each award category's details and assessment criteria can be found on the website. State
Australian Awards for University Teaching
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Recognises the diverse contributions made by individuals and teams to the quality of student learning. National
Awards for Teaching Excellence Recognises Australia's most outstanding university teachers or teaching team who have demonstrated excellence, leadership and sustained commitment to teaching and learning in higher education. National
Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning Recognises learning and teaching programs or services that make innovative and outstanding contributions to student learning and/or the quality of the student experience. National
Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards
Future of Learning CategoryThis category celebrates innovative approaches shaping the future of learning. It includes the Science of Learning Award, Learning Assessment Award, Blended and Presence Learning Award, E-Learning Award, AI in Education Award, Immersive Experiential Learning Award, and the Breakthrough Technology Innovation in Education. International
Future of WorkThis category captures effective ways to educate work-ready graduates, develop 21st century skills and foster lifelong learning, in a world increasingly transformed world by AI and machine learning. It includes the Nurturing Employability Award, Lifelong Learning Award, and the Developing Emerging Skills and Competencies Award.International
Sustainability Education AwardThis award recognises innovative approaches for encouraging and teaching the principles and best practices of sustainable development. This might involve economic, environmental and/or social sustainability.International
ValuesThis category is for initiatives aimed at promoting values, ethics, purpose, diversity, access and inclusion. This category includes the Nurturing Values and Ethics Award, Nurturing Wellbeing and Purpose Award, and the Access, Diversity & Inclusion Award.International
ASCILITE Awards
Innovation AwardThis award celebrates work undertaken by an individual or team of people in support of exemplary and research-informed use of technologies for teaching and learning in tertiary education.National
The Inaugural Anthology Educational Designer of the Year Award, in memory of Allan ChristieIn recognition of Allan’s contribution to the sector and his lifelong passion and commitment to the use of technology in learning, this award rewards a professional staff member who has made significant contributions to learning and teaching.National
Emerging Scholar AwardThis award recognises noteworthy contributions in the exemplary use of, or research in to technologies for learning and teaching in tertiary education in one of the categories referred to in the award criteria document; and/or contributions made to promote the strategic vision, mission and goals of ASCILITE.National
ASCILITE/CAULLT Award for Outstanding Leadership in Digital Learning in Higher EducationThis award recognises evidence of an individual’s innovative and effective leadership in the broad use of digital technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and overall performance in higher education by an individual demonstrating implementation, integration, collaboration, impact or innovation and creativity.National
Community Fellow AwardThis award recognises the outstanding contributions of individual ASCILITE members in the exemplary building of connections in the wider community and into the ASCILITE community.National

Please note that the submission deadlines can change from year to year. Please check the relevant award website for details.

ABP Teaching Award Winners

The ABP Faculty has a national and international reputation for outstanding educators. This page lists some of the awards that our staff have won in recent years.

Faculty Award Winners

The Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning recognises outstanding contributions in early career teaching, sessional teaching and teaching excellence through the Annual Teaching Awards.

2024 Award Winners

2023 Award Winners

2022 Award Winners

2021 Award Winners

2020 Award Winners

Built Environment Learning + Teaching Group

Recognition of Promoting Teaching Excellence

2019 Award Winners

2018 Award Winners

University Award Winners

James Helal

Edward Brown Award for Teaching Excellence

National Award Winners

Robert Crawford

Frank E Crowle AM LFAIB Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence