Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
For Outstanding Contribution to
Student Learning
OVERVIEW
The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning each year recognise
and reward the diverse contributions that individuals and teams make to the quality of student
learning at Charles Darwin University.
The Awards seek to recognise excellence in learning and teaching, and encourage reflection,
improvement, benchmarking and dissemination of best-practice approaches to teaching and
programs, particularly those that align with the strategic priorities of the University. Those priorities
include:

Providing a rich learning environment that meets the needs of students through flexible, local
and distance education options, and recognises the diversity of students studying at CDU

Being a leader in Indigenous education and knowledge

Undertaking research with global standing; and

Being a multi-sector university that delivers quality and excellence through its staff, programs
and partnerships.
Individuals or teams that have made a significant and sustained contribution to student learning in
higher education and VET, and towards the strategic priorities of CDU, may be recognised with an
award citation and an allocation of $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for teams.
The awards will be presented by the Vice-Chancellor at the end of the year, and recipients will be able
to use the funds to:

Advance their learning and teaching career

Provide additional resources to support teaching or learning activities related to the award;
and

Disseminate good practice in learning and teaching.
Award winners will provide a showcase presentation on their learning and teaching practice, arranged
in conjunction with the Office of Learning and Teaching, and will also take part in staff professional
development activities that aim to improve the quality of learning and teaching at the University.
ELIGIBILITY
Nomination is open to academic staff, general staff and institutional associates, on all campuses and
sites, that are on continuing or fixed-term appointments of 0.4 time or more and have been employed
by the University for at least two years. Nomination is by self-nomination. Team nominations across
both higher education and vocational education and training are encouraged.
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Winners of awards are eligible to renominate in future years for activities and achievements that are
unrelated to their winning nomination. Unsuccessful nominees are also eligible to renominate in later
years. Nominations that are focused on learning and teaching contributions that have already been
the successful recipients of a Government funded award are not eligible to apply.
CRITERIA
Nominees are to select one of the three categories listed below and provide evidence they have
made a sustained contribution to student learning through excellence in learning and teaching or
programs. Contributions to student learning by an individual, a team, or through the development of
an encompassing program, are eligible for nomination.
Nominees are to consider if their contribution is an example of individual/ team best practice in
learning and teaching that has contributed to positive outcomes for students, or if the activity is better
characterised as the implementation of an innovative and effective support program or service that
addressed a particular need or priority.
Best practices in learning and teaching are usually instances of leadership, innovation or creativity
within a subject, school or faculty area, or to meet the needs of a particular industry or enterprise. It
will have demonstrable positive outcomes for those students being supported by the nominating
individual or group. The impact on student learning can be direct or indirect, and should be related to
the nominating individual or group’s area of responsibility.
Innovative and effective support programs or services have usually been designed and implemented
to address a particular need or priority. It should include contributions from more than one person
over time, and implemented across multiple subjects, schools or faculties, or across institutions. It
should have made an outstanding contribution to the quality of student learning and student
experience of higher education and/or vocational education and training.
Categories:
1. Innovative and effective approaches to online and flexible learning, teaching and training
This may include:
a.
b.
Development of, or innovation in, curricula, resources or services that support or enhance
student learning and skill development, achieve results for students or have industry or
community-wide significance; or
Approaches to assessment, feedback or learning support that foster independent learning.
2. Approaches that are supportive and inclusive of a diverse student body
This may include:
a.
b.
Approaches that widen participation, access and progression (for all students or a particular
cohort); or
Education and training partnerships and collaborations with other organisations that create
benefits and opportunities for students, the community and/ or industry.
3. Contributions that enhance student development, learning, or research
This may include:
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a.
b.
Approaches that influence, engage, motivate and inspire students to learn, including those
with special needs, or support the development of students as individuals; or
Approaches that support and promote postgraduate education and research.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Prospective nominees are strongly encouraged to notify the Office of Learning and Teaching of their
intent to nominate for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
This will allow the Office to provide advice and support in preparing their nomination to ensure it
addresses the selection criteria and that the written statement meets the standard expected for the
Award.
Each nominee must submit the following essential documentation:
1. Nomination form
The nomination cover sheet is available on page 6 and 7 of this document and must be signed by the
relevant Head of School or Director.
2. Written statement (limit of six A4 pages)
The core element of a nomination is the written statement in which nominees describe their
contribution to student learning by specifically addressing one of the selection criteria and providing
evidence to support their claims.
The written statement must be no more than six A4 pages in 11 point Arial font, with margins of at
least 2cm and clear paragraph spacing.
The written statement should comprise the following four components:
a. Proposed citation (maximum of 25 words) describing the specific context for this contribution
by the individual, team and/or program
b. Summary of contribution and its specific context
c. Statement addressing one chosen selection criteria which details the excellence or innovation
undertaken
d. Statement providing evidence for the ways in which the contribution has:
i. Influenced student learning, engagement and the overall student experience
ii. Been recognised by fellow staff, the University, industry, and/or the broader community;
and
iii. Been sustained for a period of no less than two years; and
e. Statement or summary of activity that demonstrates a commitment to learning and teaching
and/or connections with industry, the community and professional organisations.
The written statement, and the references, must have margins of at least 2cm, have clear paragraph
definition, and be in font 11 point Arial.
3. Two references (limit to one A4 page each)
Two references, of no more than one A4 page each, must be provided by people that are able to
comment on the nominee’s contribution to student learning against the nominated selection criteria.
The first reference must be from the nominees Pro Vice-Chancellor, Head of School, Division
Manager or Director. If the nomination is from a team, the references should apply to the team.
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The second reference would normally be expected to be from outside the University, and could
include an industry or community partner, professional or industry body, or other individuals or
organisations that can attest to the broad impact and value of the learning and teaching contribution
specified in the nomination.
4. Optional Supporting Material:
Supporting material may include one digital item, and must consist of no more than four A4 pages (or
the equivalent e.g. four screen captures with explanatory notes. Video and/or audio material must be
no more than 4 minutes in duration. Resumes and Curriculum Vitae’s are not required to be included
with nominations for the Award.
Digital evidence must be submitted in an easily accessible file format (word, excel, .pdf, .jpeg, .mpeg,
.mpg4, .avi, or .mov) utilising standard Windows or Mac operating systems (large file attachments
should be provided on a memory stick), or made available on an accessible webpage and capable of
being viewed using a standard web browser. Ideally, digital supporting material should be included in
the PDF, or the PDF should include a page with a hyperlink to a webpage where the supporting
material can be accessed.
Material that exceeds the four A4 page limit (or equivalent), and those that cannot be accessed using
standard CDU desktop computers, will not be considered by the Selection Panel.
Supporting material must be relevant, and this must be explained in the written statement. It is the
nominee’s responsibility to ensure that supporting material is accessible by OLT staff and members of
the Selection Panel.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The nomination will be judged against the chosen category on the extent to which it shows evidence
in the written statement that the nominees contribution has:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Demonstrated clear objectives and a systematic approach
Influenced student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience
Promoted and supported equity and inclusiveness for diverse student groups
Gained recognition and/or collaboration from fellow staff, the institution, industry, and/or the
broader community
5. Extended benefits to a wider cohort of students, staff, the institution, and/or other organisations
and industry
6. Sustained for no less than 2 years; and
7. Contributed to achieving CDUs learning and teaching goals and CDUs strategic priorities.
Evidence will be evaluated on the degree to which it is relevant and supports the nomination claims.
Nominations should include a mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence, and it should be integrated
into the written statement.
Nominations will also be assessed on the inclusion of formal and informal evaluation and
consideration by the nominee of their contribution to learning and teaching.
Teaching or program activities do not need to address all seven assessment criteria, but the more
criteria that are covered the more competitive it will be against other nominations.
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Selection Panel
The selection panel for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning will select recipients and those decisions will be endorsed by the CDU Vice-Chancellor. The
selection panel will include:

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic (Chair)

Director, Office of Learning and Teaching

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Engineering, Health, Science and Environment (or nominee)

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Law, Education, Business and Arts (or nominees); and

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education and Training (or nominee).
Notification
Recipients of the Awards will be invited to attend a presentation ceremony. The names of Award
winners will also be made public through the media and on the CDU website.
SUBMISSION
1.
2.
3.
4.
Complete the cover sheet from page 6 and 7 of this document.
Scan the completed cover sheet which includes the nomination form, written statement, letters of
support, and any supporting material.
Email the nomination to Secretariat@cdu.edu.au.
Applications close on Monday 31 August 2015.
Receipt of nominations
Receipt of all nominations will be acknowledged by email. If the applicant does not receive an
email within a week of submission, they should contact Janet Sincock by email on
janet.sincock@cdu.edu.au
WINNER RESPONSIBILITIES
Recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards will be required to provide a showcase presentation on
their learning and teaching practice, during Learning and Teaching Week, 2016. Recipients will also
be expected to take part in relevant staff professional development activities that aim to improve the
quality of learning and teaching at the University.
Recipients will have 12 months to utilise the prize money to:

Advance their learning and teaching career

Provide additional resources to support learning or teaching activities related to the award;
and

Disseminate good practice in learning and teaching.
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Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
Nomination Form
Complete this form and scan it, with your supporting documentation, into a single PDF
file. Email to Secretariat@cdu.edu.au
Part A - Category for nomination
Please indicate () the category in which you wish the nomination to be assessed.
Select only one category.
Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

Innovative and effective approaches to online and flexible learning, teaching and
training

Approaches that are supportive and inclusive of a diverse student body

Contributions that enhance student development, learning, or research
Part B.1 - Citation Wording
Describe the distinctive/outstanding contribution of the nominee(s). Maximum of 25 words.
Part B.2 – Nominee details
Please complete the following section for the person being nominated. In the case of a
team award this should be the person designated as the team leader/representative.
Title
Last name
First name
Email
Phone extension
Mobile number
Campus location
Division /Unit
School
Position title
HEW Level
Commencement
date at CDU
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Part B.2 – Team Members
Please complete this section to nominate all staff relevant to a Team Award.
TEAM NAME:
Title
First name
Last name
Email
Mobile phone
Part C – Nominator
I recommend this nomination on the basis of the information attached to this application.
Email
Name
Position
Division/
Faculty
Date
Signature
Part D - Director/Head of School Support for Nomination and Authorisation
I support this nomination on the basis of the information attached to this application.
Email
Name
Position
Division/
Faculty
Date
Signature
Part E - The nominee for the award must sign the Nominee’s Declaration.
I accept this nomination and note that the information on this form is collected by the University and will be
used only for the purpose of assisting the Selection Panel in the selection process. The information will be used
in the administration of the CDU awards program and may be used for publicity in relation to CDU.
Date
Signature
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