Professional Staff Award
The Professional Staff Award aims to recognise and reward professional staff members for their significant contributions to excellence in teaching and learning at the North-West University (NWU). It acknowledges outstanding support that enhances the quality of teaching and learning across academic fields of study within faculties. This Award underscores the crucial role of professional staff in shaping a high-quality educational environment. Appreciating the dedication and efforts of staff who provide exceptional support aligned with NWU’s strategic goals, this award encourages continuous improvement and innovation in teaching and learning support services.
Leadership in Teaching Award
The NWU Leadership Award for Teaching Excellence acknowledges and supports individuals who have made a significant impact on teaching and learning through leadership, innovation, and advocacy. This Award aligns with NWU’s strategic goals by recognising those who drive advancements that address social justice and contribute to NWU’s mission and the broader South African higher education landscape.
Team Teaching Award
The purpose of the Team-Teaching Award is to recognised outstanding contributions from university teachers who follow a collaborative team-based teaching approach in diverse teaching-learning contexts in pursuit of teaching excellence and student success. There are degrees in which teachers can work together or collaborate in planning, content development and integration, teaching and assessment.
Blended Teaching Award
The annual Blended Teaching Award is envisaged for permanently appointed staff who have been appointed to teach modules using blended teaching and learning strategies in higher education.
The purpose of the Blended Teaching Award is to recognise the exceptional efforts and achievements of university teachers who have demonstrated exemplary blended learning pedagogies and methodologies. This award is designed to showcase significant and innovative teaching approaches that seamlessly integrate online educational strategies with conventional in-person classroom methodologies, fostering a dynamic and enriched learning experience for students.
Teaching with ICT Award
The purpose of this annual award is to acknowledge excellence in the innovative way of using existing, or new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance effective teaching and engaging learning, through pedagogy and the integrated use of technology. Innovative teaching and learning with ICTs may include the use of new instructional technologies or the use of traditional technologies in creative ways, fit for the purpose of engaging students effectively in the learning process.
Innovation in Teaching and Learning Award
The purpose of the annual Innovation in Teaching and Learning Award is to recognise a higher education teacher who has introduced innovative approaches and practices in teaching and learning, in the pursuit of teaching excellence and student enhancement. Innovation can encompass anything from introducing new teaching methods or strategies to creating innovative learning opportunities for students.
Novice Teacher Award
This award is for a novice academic who is at the entry level of his/her career path in Higher Education.
The main purpose of the Novice Teacher Awards is to acknowledge and recognise the excellent contribution of the top five novice teachers at NWU, to teaching and learning in the Higher Education context. To qualify for this, the participant has had to complete the NWU’s compulsory Induction Programme for Participants and supplemented their portfolio of evidence within their year of appointment.
University Teaching Award (UTEA)
The University Teaching Excellence Award (UTEA) is the most prestigious teaching recognition award bestowed upon teaching participants at the North-West University (NWU). Participants of this award are expected to compete in a national space at the Council of Higher Education (CHE), Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA), teaching excellence awards. Therefore, this award’s criterion is pitched at the same level as that of CHE/HELTASA.
The purpose of the award is to yield recognition, and award distinguished scholars in Teaching and Learning at NWU. It is also to recognise scholars as role models of exceptional teaching. In this way, a unique set of participants, who provide leadership in teaching in their disciplines, universities and regions, are identified. Participation in the TEA is determined by the faculty (and must have been honoured for a teaching award in the past). Recipients of this award will receive a monetary value of R50, 000 each. There are financial rules associated with this award.
National University Teaching Award (NUTA)
The National University Teaching Awards (NUTA) celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership in teaching and learning across South African higher education. These prestigious awards recognise academics whose teaching practices demonstrate an exceptional commitment to enhancing student learning experiences, contributing to student success and educational transformation, and advancing teaching and learning practices.