What are the Transforming Education Awards?
More often than not, academic staff will go the extra mile to ensure the best possible outcomes for their students without thinking anything of it. This is what everyone's expected to do, right? Well, we're here to let you know that we see your efforts, that they are appreciated in any form that they might take and that they (and you) should be celebrated for the great things that work enables!
With 18 categories to choose from, we encourage you to take a moment and think of any exceptional lecturers or student reps and nominate them for one of those awards:
- Innovative Education Award
- Inclusivity Champion Award
- Employability, Experiential Learning and Community Engagement Award
- Advocate for Students Award
- Inspiring Teaching Award
- Outstanding Postgraduate Teacher
- PhD Supervisor of the Year
- UG Advisor of the Year
- SEP Staff Co-Chair (SPO) of the Year
- Module of the Year
- Academic Community Contribution Award
- Convenor of the Year
- SEP Member of the Year
- Best University Service (Support Service) of the Year
- School of the Year
- Academic Society Partnership Award
Click here to read the award role descriptions
- Innovative Education Award - This award celebrates teaching that embraces and incorporates innovative approaches to blended learning, integrating digital tools and pedagogies in creative and coherent ways. It recognises the intentional design of learning across in-person and online environments. The award also highlights thoughtful approaches to assessment and feedback. This may include the use of emerging technologies, including generative AI, where these support critical thinking, learning progression, and the development of students’ digital and AI literacy.
- Inclusivity Champion Award - This award is for teaching which embeds the values of equity, diversity and inclusion. This may be through inclusive learning environments created by the consideration of diverse learning preferences and needs or creating a socially conscious and inclusive curriculum. Their efforts contribute to a culture of respect, understanding, and belonging within the academic community.
- Employability, Experiential Learning and Community Engagement Award - This award honours teaching that meaningfully connects academic learning with professional, civic, or real-world contexts. It recognises innovative and impactful approaches that embed employability and experiential learning within the curriculum and or through co-curricular activities. This may include authentic assessment, engagement with external partners, applied projects, as well as community or civic collaboration.
- Advocate for Students Award – This award highlights a staff member who goes above and beyond to advocate for students and puts student interest as the centre of what they do. Whether by amplifying student voices within the school or championing student experience at every stage.
- Inspiring Teaching Award – This award spotlights passionate educators who encourage students to believe in their potential and strive for excellence in their education. They challenge students to think critically, engage in meaningful discussions, and deepen their understanding of topics, resulting in a transformative and empowering learning experience.
- Outstanding Postgraduate Teacher - This award celebrates inspiring teaching the has come from someone that teaches postgraduates. It recognises passionate teaching that ignites curiosity and motivates students to explore ideas or issues beyond their studies, fostering a love for learning and exploration in a students’ academic journey.
- PhD Supervisor of the Year – This award is to recognise staff members who have excelled in their role as PhD supervisors and made a significant impact on their students’ academic or personal development. This may be through providing dedicated guidance, research expertise, unwavering support or empowering students to overcome challenges to achieve their goals.
- UG Advisor of the Year – This award recognises the pastoral support provided by UG Advisors, who assist undergraduate students in making academic or welfare decisions by offering guidance during times of need, ensuring that students feel supported throughout their journey.
- SEP Staff Co-Chair (SPO) of the Year – This award is to recognise the work and contributions of staff co-chairs within their schools. Criteria may include going the extra mile to encourage and support representation across all years and courses within the school, consistently helping students engage with representation, providing staff support to enable students to enact change and motivating them to utilise the Student Voice.
- Module of the Year - This award for Module of the Year recognises a particular module that has fostered academic curiosity and significantly impacted students' learning experiences. This could be through innovative content and its delivery, significant student engagement, exceptional teaching quality, effective and inclusive assessment methods, or by providing students with critical skills, knowledge, and insights.
- Academic Community Contribution Award – This award honours a student who exemplifies academic and personal virtues, creating a meaningful and wide-reaching impact on their academic community. This could be through efforts of collaboration, inclusion or engagement, that enhance the learning experience or promote the growth of both current and future students. This is one of three awards that can be nominated for by members of UEA staff.
- Convenor of the Year – This award celebrates Faculty or School convenors who excel in representing their students at the Faculty of School level, driving meaningful improvements to the academic experience for their peers. It is one of three awards open to nominations from members of UEA staff.
- SEP Member of the Year – This award recognises a student who consistently engages with and contributes to their schools School Experience Partnership meetings. Offering valuable contributions that can influence effective positive change for their peers. This is one of three awards which can be nominated for by members of UEA staff.
- Best University Service (Support Service) of the Year – This award celebrates the exceptional services provided to students across the institution, spotlighting teams that have gone above and beyond to aid and support to create a transformative student experience.
- School of the Year – This award honours a school that has fostered a strong sense of community and built a collaborative partnership between staff and students to drive positive change. Good practice could include examples of engaging and involving students in decisions affecting learning and teaching for current and prospective students.
- Academic Society Partnership Award – This award acknowledges schools that actively engage and integrate relevant academic societies into the fabric of school life. This may include fostering a collaborative learning community with the society, involving them in decision-making, or supporting their growth and development. (This award can be nominated by both students and staff, the award will be given to both the faculty/school and the academic society committee, trophy can stay with the school, but framed certificate to committee).
- Vice Chancellors Award - This award is for someone who has truly gone above and beyond, demonstrating exceptional dedication, and who the Vice Chancellor feels deserves special recognition for this. This would be solely decided by the Vice Chancellor from the provided list of winners for the awards.
Dates and Details
Date: 7th May 2026
Location: The LCR
Dress code: Black Tie
Anything else?: Please note that this event is invite only with allocated seating. If you have been nominated for an award, or would like to attend, this information will be communicated to you in advance of the awards night.
How do I nominate someone?
Nominations are now open and close 9am on 27th March - so get your nominations in now!
Submit your nominations here!
2026 Shortlist
To be announced soon!