Incentives to reward group innovation in teaching.

The Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) has launched a new award to laud collaborative teaching at UCT.

The award, named the CHED Award for Collaborative Educational Practice, is open to groups of two or more people who have worked together on a particular project to boost teaching and learning. This could be a teaching team, a curriculum development team, a pair of lecturers or even a department.

For 2007, five awards of up to R40 000 are up for grabs, and may be used in any way that the team feels will advance their efforts.

Jeff Jawitz, senior lecturer for academic staff development, said there are many of lecturers who work in teams, but that there are not enough incentives for them.

"The only award available recognises individual achievement [the Distinguished Teacher's Award]. What if three people have done an exceptionally good job to work on how to change the curriculum?" he asked.

The award might well change behaviour, in particular those of committees and working groups, said Jawitz.

Winners must have exploited the synergies arising out of collaboration to innovate or address a challenge that has arisen in the teaching and learning environment, and the project must be an example of good practice.

Jawitz said the incentive also aims to provide additional resources for groups of academics to innovate in their teaching programmes and courses.

Project teams may nominate themselves or be nominated via colleagues, including the head of department, the dean, or a commendation by an academic review panel. Upon nomination, the nominee will be approached to apply for the award.

Applications and nominations should be made on the required form and delivered to the Hlanganani Building. The closing date for applications is 5 October.