National Teaching Fellow (NTF) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) recognise those who have made an excellent contribution to teaching quality. Learn how our scheme can support you in achieving these prestigious awards.
The NTF award recognises and celebrates individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession. The focus being on teaching Excellence. This is separate to the categories of fellowship awarded by Advance HE and through our GOLD scheme.
To achieve this award, you must be able to show:
- Individual excellence. enhancing and transforming student outcomes and/or the teaching profession.
- Raising the profile of excellence. Supporting colleagues and influencing support for student learning and/or the teaching profession. Demonstrating impact and engagement beyond your immediate academic or professional role.
- Developing excellence. Demonstrating your commitment to and impact of ongoing professional development in relation to teaching and learning.
The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) is a sister project that rewards collaborative work in higher education. The award highlights the key role of teamwork that has had significant impact on teaching and learning. We can nominate one team each year for CATE.
To achieve this award, you and your team must show:
- Collaboration excellence - How your team works collaboratively, and the opportunities given due to this
- Raising and developing the profile of excellence -The impact your team has had on teaching and learning both locally and beyond
Award holders at Greenwich
NTF
- Dave Hockham (School of Design & Creative Industries, FLAS) (2025)
- Denise Miller (School of Human Sciences, FEHHS) (2024)
- Gerhard Kristandl (School of Accounting, Finance & Economics, GBS) (2024)
- Gemma Mansi (School of Education, FEEHS) (2023)
- Louise Hewitt (School of Law & Criminology, FLAS) (2021)
- Jenny Marie (Academic Development, VCO) (2018)
- Jenny Field (School of Education, FEHHS) (2016)
- David Evans (School of Health Sciences, FEHHS) (2014)
- Mike Sharp (School of Engineering, FES) (2009)
- Tony Mann (School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences, FES) (2008)
CATE
- Academic and Digital Skills Team (ILS) (2023)
Our Supported Scheme
Each year we can nominate 3 candidates for NTF and 1 team for CATE from our institution to Advance HE. Selected nominees submit an application that showcases their reach, value, and impact they have had on learning and teaching. Our team, made up of colleagues from the Academic and Learning Enhancement (ALE) team, previous NTF and CATE award holders, and trained NTF and CATE assessors, are here to help you.
Through our supported scheme, those selected to be nominated will be assigned to a team of mentors. Your mentors will be able to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft applications to help you fully showcase your achievements.
Key dates
| Month | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| May | Expression of Interest submissions open Appointments to discuss interest with NTF & CATE team |
| July | Expression of Interest submissions close Selection Panel shortlisting nominees Initial meeting with mentor team |
| October | 1st draft deadline |
| November | Peer development workshop |
| December | Mentor check-in meeting |
| January | 2nd draft deadline |
| February | 3rd draft deadline (beginning of February) Final version completed and sent to PVC Education and Vice-Chancellor |
| March | Final application submitted to Advance HE |
Those who are successfully nominated will be required to submit an application of 4500 words by March with the support of our NTF & CATE mentors. You will be expected to develop 3 drafts before it is then reviewed by our PVC Education and Vice-Chancellor then submitted to Advance HE.
As a shortlisted nominee, you will be expected engage with all aspects detailed in the timeline above, with sustained commitment and regular on-going engagement from July - March.
Learn how you can apply to our Scheme
1. Familiarise yourself about the requirements for NTF and CATE
Visit Advance HE's website to learn more details about each awards and the requirements in being able to develop a successful application.
2. Discover your potential with someone from our team
If you are intending on submitting a proposal to our supported scheme, you are invited to make an appointment to speak with a member of our Team.
Our team will be able to answer any questions you may have, help you identify existing evidence that could be used for an application, or areas the develop further for a future submission.
We will only accept expressions of interest from individuals who have booked an appointment and spoken to someone from our team.
3. Prepare evidence for an expression of interest
In your expression of interest you will be expected to provide evidence of how you or your team meet the assed criteria for the NTF or CATE award.
For NTF expressions of interest you will be asked the following questions:
- How have you enhanced and transformed student outcomes and/or the teaching profession? Please provide evidence of impact commensurate with your context and the opportunities afforded by it
- How have you supported colleagues and influenced support for student learning and/or the teaching profession? Please provide evidence of impact and engagement beyond your immediate academic or professional role
- How have you demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development? Please provide evidence of its impact relating to teaching and learning and/or learning support?
For CATE expressions of interest you will be asked the following questions:
- How does the team work together collaboratively? Please provide evidence of this being done excellently, commensurate with the team’s context and the opportunities afforded by it.
- How has the team had impact on teaching and learning, including beyond their immediate academic or professional area? Please provide evidence of the reach, value, and impact of the team in this regard.
For both awards, you will need to provide evidence of:
- Reach - The breadth of influence ranging from department or faculty to institutional, national or global levels.
- Value - The tangible improvements or added value to the student learning experience or to teaching practice. This often involves evidence of changing attitudes or approaches to learning among students or staff.
- Impact - Explicit evidence of making a difference to teaching practice, policy, and/or student learning outcomes in higher education. This involves demonstrating how practice has shifted, rather than just describing the activity.
You will also need to provide some indicative qualitative and quantitative impact data to support your claims made in this EoI. All examples should have sufficient longevity to allow you to demonstrate reflection, evaluation, and impact. To help with the reviewing process, please include dates.
Each question allows for responses of up to a maximum of 500 words (equivalent to 1 side of an A4 page).
Further guidance can be found on our expression of interest form here.
4. Obtain a supporting statement from your line manager or Head of School
As part of your expression of interest you also need a supporting statement from your line manager (for NTF) or the Head of school/department (for CATE). This is for them to authenticate the claims made in your EoI and to confirm that they support you in developing an application and the time required to do so.
Our supporting statement template can be found in our NTF & CATE Scheme Resources section below.
5. Complete our expression of interest form
Complete an expression of interest form here.
Expressions of Interest must be submitted by Monday 22nd September 2025 (12pm) - Please note, we do not accept submissions via email. All must be submitted via our online form.
NTF & CATE Scheme Resources
Contact our Team
If you have any enquiries about NTF, CATE, or our supported scheme, then please contact our team by clicking the button below