A National Teaching Fellowship is widely regarded as the most prestigious award in higher education learning and ​teaching in the UK, and in 2018 the scheme was opened to Scottish higher education providers. This competitive award has been designed to celebrate and recognise individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education and is organised by AdvanceHE. Up to 55 awards are made each year.

Each university can nominate up to three applicants per annum.

To date, Edinburgh Napier has been hugely successful in gaining these awards.

Eva Malone
(School of Applied Sciences)
2021 Winner

Jackie Brodie
(Business School)
2019 Winner

Mark Huxham
(School of Applied Sciences)
2018 Winner

Michelle O'Reilly
(School of Health & Social Care)
2018 Winner

Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE)

The purpose of the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) is to recognise and celebrate collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. Introduced in 2016, the scheme highlights the key role that teamwork plays in higher education. Each award recognises a team which has enabled a change in practice for colleagues or students at an institutional or discipline level. There is no limit on the size of the team.

Each university can only nominate one team per year.

In 2019, The Students as Colleagues Team, led by Mark Huxham, was a successful CATE winner.

From left to right: Jenny Scoles, Errol Rivera, Rachel Murray, Mo Andrew, Mark Huxham, Kimberly Wilder

​​Preparing for NTFS or CATE

Please note that Advance HE hopes that the NTFS and CATE schemes will run again in a similar format going forward, although timescales and details are subject to alteration and adjustment year-on-year.

Interested colleagues should also note that the process of gaining nomination and developing a claim for these awards is substantial and lengthy.

We start the planning process as early as possible (typically before Advance HE officially launches the scheme and publishes full details) so that our colleagues are offered the best possible chance of similar success.

Initially, please familiarise yourself with further information about each scheme, by accessing the available resources, guidance and support materials below. Keep an eye out for publicity, including Advance HE updates and DLTE support sessions!​

Further Information about the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS)

Please note that applicants should have HEA Fellowship (any level) or be working towards it.

You can find further information about the NTF scheme on the Advance HR website and consult Advance HE’s downloadable Guidance documentation for potential nominees.​ 

While the details of any future scheme may change, to date individuals have been expected to demonstrate evidence of:

• Individual excellence: of enhancing and transforming student outcomes and/or the teaching profession, demonstrating impact commensura​te with the individual’s context and the opportunities afforded by it.

 

• Raising the profile of excellence: of​ supporting colleagues and influencing support for student learning and/or the teaching profession; demonstrating impact and engagement beyond the nominee’s immediate academic or professional role.

 

• Developing excellence: of the nominee’s​ commitment to and impact of ongoing professional development with regard to teaching and learning and/or learning support.

Information about the CATE Scheme

You can find further information about the CATE scheme on the Advance HE website​ and consult Advance HE’s downloadable Guidance documentation for potential nominees.

Please note that the team leader must not have an active application for NTFS running at the same time as a CATE application. Staff members of the team must have Fellowship (any level) or be working towards it.

While the details of any future scheme may change, to date teams have been expected to demonstrate evidence of:

• Excellence in the team’s collaborative approach. Evidence of excellence in the team’s approach to working collaboratively, commensurat​e with their context and the opportunities afforded by it.

   

• Excellence in the impact of collaborativ​e working. Evidence of the team having a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning, including beyond their immediate academic or professional area.

Reviewers will be looking for evidence of reach, value and impact.

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