Dear colleagues and students
Nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) 2024 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:
How to nominate someone
Nominations may be submitted by students and/or academic staff by 16 April 2025.
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:
In line with the revised Terms of Reference (PC02 2025), the committee will consider nominations that are based on postgraduate teaching.
Additional criteria for postgraduate-focused nominations include:
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 25 pages, excluding appendices) by 1 July 2025. The portfolio must include:
Appendices (maximum 50 pages) may include:
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, and the amount is determined annually.
Key dates
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
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