Purpose of award

The President’s Teaching Award supports the winner, through a grant of €5000 to complete a specific project in the area of teaching & learning that is clearly in line with UCD’s Education Strategy.  This prestigious award recognises the abilities of a recipient who will have a track record in teaching and learning including the adoption of leadership role in curriculum design, programme development and peer mentoring in Teaching & Learning.

Award Details:

Up to two awards will be made.  See the Awards and Grants Calendar for application dates. 

Funding

This award is made possible by the HEA Strategic Innovation fund.

Eligibility:

The scheme is open to school-based academic staff holding permanent appointments and staff on fixed term contracts until at least May 2014.

Conditions for award winners:

The winner will be supported in the completion of this project through a grant of €5000.  The project must be completed two years after the award is made.

Expectations for award winners:

Regular up-dates will be submitted during the project and a full report and public presentation of the project outcomes will be delivered on its completion.

Adjudication criteria:

Applications will be assessed using the following criteria :

1. The quality of the project proposal and its feasibility in the given time period.
2. The extent to which the project proposal can successfully contribute to the implementation of UCD’s Education Strategy.
3. The applicant's record of effective teaching, learning and academic leadership in their school or college.
4. How well the applicant has articulated their teaching philosophy & the level to which they understand and apply teaching and learning principles and theories.
5. The quality of any scholarly pedagogic research undertaken by the applicant.
6. The level to which feedback has been used to inform the applicant's teaching practice. 

Application Procedure

Submission of online application form followed by presentation and interview for short-listed candidates by a multi-disciplinary  adjudication panel with an external examiner.  See the Awards and Grants Calendar for application dates.

Application Requirements:

1. A well-developed proposal for a substantial T&L project to be undertaken.  (250 words maximum)  This project will be clearly aligned with institutional needs as articulated in the Education Strategy and/or Programme Plans and will be underpinned by evidenced-based teaching and learning principles/theory. 
    
2. Two nominations: One nomination from the applicant’s College Principal plus one nomination from their Head of School and/or Head of Subject.  Note: supporting nominations must be submitted by the deadline. 

3. A summary (750 words maximum for section 3), outlining specific achievements from the last three to five years, including at least three of the following:

• The development of teaching approaches which have demonstrated, in a scholarly manner, effective and innovative approaches to student learning needs that are supported by clear evidence of motivating students to learn.
• The development and delivery of modules giving evidence of clearly defined learning outcomes aligned with effective teaching, learning and assessment strategies.
• A track record of a leading contribution to curriculum or programme development at school/subject/programme level.
• A track record of leading contribution to the development of T&L at College Level.
• A track record of leading contribution to student support and development.

4. A short teaching statement outlining the teaching and learning principles and theories that underpin the applicant's practice (300 words maximum).  This section should also give evidence of scholarly research that they have undertaken in the area of teaching and learning (300 words maximum).

5. A description of how the applicant has used feedback to inform their teaching practice (300 words maximum).  

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for frequently asked questions for President's and College Teaching Award applicants.

Guidelines for Applicants

Informal enquiries may be made to Elizabeth Noonan, Director of Academic Development. 
Email: elizabeth.noonan@ucd.ie

Guidelines for Nominators

Having discussed the application with the applicant, nominators are asked to write in support of the applicant, (between 600-1000 words) citing evidence to support the applicant's individual achievements in teaching and learning and the contributions that they make to developing teaching and learning at school and/or college level. Nominators should forward their nominations to tl@ucd.ie by the closing date. 

 Adjudication Panel:

Prof Bairbre Redmond (Chair), Deputy Registrar Teaching & Learning and Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Prof Hugh Campbell, President’s Teaching Award Winner 2002-03
Prof Padraig Dunne, Head of School of Physics
Dr Maria Meehan, President’s Teaching Award Winner 2004-05
Prof Ciaran Sugrue, Head of School of Education
Prof Sarah Moore, Associate Vice-President Academic, University of Limerick

Canvassing adjudication panel members will result in disqualification of applications.