BSA/HEA National Award for Excellence in Teaching Sociology

The British Sociological Association (BSA) and Higher Education Academy (HEA) welcome nominations for the Award for Excellence in Teaching Sociology. This award of £500 is open to all (not only BSA members) and aims to reward individual staff or teams of staff, and also to raise the profile of learning and teaching activity in Sociology in the University Sector through the publicity associated with the nominations and award-giving process. Furthermore, the nomination material will provide a source of information on good practice in teaching and supporting learning that can be disseminated across the sector.

The Selection Process and Criteria

The award will be made at the BSA Annual Conference.  The award panel will be comprised of at least three people, including a member of the BSA Executive and a member of the HEA.  The prize will be awarded to an individual, or team, who in the view of the panel has contributed the most to the positive learning experience of students in Sociology in the current academic year.

For the criteria on nominations and awards, please refer to the UK Professional Standards Framework (UK PSF) for teaching and supporting learning.

Individuals and teams are invited to nominate themselves for the award. Each nomination should be accompanied by a short statement of no more than 2000 words explaining why (s)he believes they are deserving of the award. 

Guidelines for Submission for the Prize

The Awards Panel will require evidence of one or more of the following areas:

• positive contributions to learning and teaching
• use of innovative teaching strategies
• meeting the needs of the diverse student population
• sharing of good teaching practice with colleagues
• stimulating independent learning and critical thinking

Supporting evidence should also be submitted. This could include copies of recent formal and informal feedback from students or peer review, or a short statement of support from a colleague.

The panel will meet or correspond by email or communicate by other electronic means to consider all proposals, and from these, select a shortlist, and, if possible, the winner(s) of the award. The winner of the award will be announced at the BSA Annual Conference dinner and through the BSA newsletter.

The nomination statements and supporting evidence should be submitted to Lee Coleman no later than midday 21 February 2014.  Winners of the award will agree to write a short article for the BSA newsletter summarising their award winning teaching activities to enable the sharing of good practice.

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