Call for nominations: Distinguished Teacher Award

Dear colleagues and students

Nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) 2025 are now open.

The DTA is the highest recognition the University of Cape Town (UCT) bestows on teaching staff. Through the award, the university recognises and celebrates excellent and transformed teaching practice and acknowledges the primary place of teaching and learning in the institution’s work.

Each year, the DTA Committee reviews nominations from across the university to identify educators who have significantly shaped the learning experiences of students, contributed meaningfully to curriculum renewal and advanced inclusive teaching practices. The process is rigorous, guided by clearly defined criteria and adjudication standards.

Who is eligible?

Permanent academic staff who:

• have taught at UCT for at least five years full-time under academic conditions of service, and
• are engaged in undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching and supervision.

How to nominate someone: Nominations may be submitted by students and/or academic staff here by 6 April 2026.

• Submit a nomination.

A valid nomination must include a detailed motivation that clearly addresses the DTA criteria (see below).

One-line nominations or general endorsements will not be accepted. Nominations must be submitted as formal letters that explicitly address the award criteria.

Core criteria for adjudication:

Nominees should demonstrate excellence and leadership in:

• teaching philosophy and pedagogical approach, including responsiveness to teaching challenges at UCT and beyond
• curriculum renewal and transformation, including decolonisation and inclusivity
• impact on students, both within and beyond formal teaching
• influence on colleagues' teaching practices, e.g through mentorship, collaboration or leadership
• inclusive and responsive engagement with a diverse student body and their learning needs
• reflection on teaching practice, including responsiveness to feedback from students and peers.

In line with the revised Terms of Reference, the committee will consider nominations that are based on postgraduate teaching.

Additional criteria for postgraduate-focused nominations include:

• mentorship and support for the development of appropriate postgraduate attributes
• facilitation of progress and access to relevant postgraduate education resources, including funding and infrastructure
• advocacy for the academic and professional needs and opportunities of postgraduate students.

Nominees whose teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate domains are encouraged to address both sets of criteria in their portfolio, where relevant.

Portfolio requirements

Nominees who accept the nomination will receive a set of guidelines and must submit a portfolio (maximum 30 pages, excluding appendices) by 6 July 2026. The portfolio must include:

• a teaching philosophy statement addressing the criteria
• the original nomination letter
• a short CV outlining courses taught over the last three years
• a letter of support from the Head of Department or Dean (mandatory)
• raw and synthesised student feedback data (last three years), anonymised
• optional: up to three support letters from past students or colleagues.

Appendices (maximum 50 pages) may include:

• evidence of curriculum innovation, teaching development, or inclusive practices
• engagement in departmental or faculty-level teaching and learning initiatives
• supervision records, co-authored publications with students, or external examining reflections
• peer observation feedback or contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Adjudication process and outcomes

Portfolios are reviewed using a detailed rubric. The committee reaches decisions through consensus. All decisions are final.

Only one DTA may be awarded to a staff member in their career.

Unsuccessful nominees may revise and resubmit their portfolio the following year using the same nomination. A new nomination is required thereafter.

A purse will accompany each DTA recipient, the amount determined annually.

Key dates

• Nomination deadline: 6 April 2026
• Portfolio submission deadline: 6 July 2026
• Award outcomes announced: Fourth quarter of 2026

Details on past recipients may be accessed on the UCT Distinguished Teacher Award page.

Let’s continue to celebrate and recognise the teaching excellence that shapes the lives of our students and the future of our institution.

Sincerely

Professor Brandon Collier-Reed
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements