The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) recognises, rewards and celebrates individuals working in UK Higher Education who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.
The NTFS is one of the highest profile awards in the UK HE sector for innovation and practice in Higher Education learning and teaching.
The awards are highly competitive with only a relatively small number of colleagues from across the sector being awarded a NTF each year which are selected from all institutional nominations. Although it is a competitive process even unsuccessful nominees should still celebrate their institutional teaching excellence. Under the NTFS regulations, the university is permitted to put forward up to three nominations for the NTFS for consideration each year.
The University of Bath has a good track record of award winners over the years and are keen to support new applicants each year.
Benefits of applying
By applying you are able to reflect on, and document all your excellent achievements from across your career. Recognition also provides the following benefits:
Widely recognised in UK HE and internationally as a mark of quality
it opens doors: many NTFs are able to use their awards as springboards for career progression
you join a national community of like-minded professionals to share practice and ideas with
Even just being selected as a nominee by Bath demonstrates your existing excellence in teaching and learning
Am I ready to apply for an NTF award?
The National Teaching Fellowships look for candidates with a sustained impact on teaching and learning in Higher Education during their career. Even if you feel you are not at that stage in your career, it is important to start thinking about it now. Quite often prospective applicants need to recall examples of previous successes and try to locate supporting evidence at the time of their teaching activity. What sort of evidence do I need to collect, how do I consider it for a future application? We would encourage prospective current and future NTF applicants to come along to an information session (see below for dates) to find out how to start thinking about submitting an application and how to start preparing for it, even if you may not yet be considering applying for a couple of years.
How to apply
The Centre for Learning and Teaching together with the NTF network of existing Bath NTFs will coordinate an internal selection and submission process to select up to three colleagues as nominees for the NTFS.
Individuals at the university who feel they may meet the criteria outlined in the application guidance are encouraged to submit a ‘Expression of interest’ form to the CLT. Once received the Bath NTF network will consider all nominees before the submission to the Advance HE NTFS panel.
If you are interested in applying, please download and complete the NTF ‘Expression of Interest’ form and submit it by email to Paul Chin, no later than Monday 16th September 2024.
Colleagues selected to submit for the NTFS will be supported through application writing workshops and mentoring through the NTF network as part of the support process. In addition to internal support, Advance HE offer written guidance and members of the Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF) run a series of regional and online support workshops for nominees, which are free to attend.
Further Information
Advance HE support
Advance HE run information sessions in the autumn and further information will be provided here when they announce dates of the sessions.
Internal support
Information sessions on how to develop a future application or apply in the current year are being run on the following dates:
- Tuesday 3rd September - 10:00-10:30am
- Thursday 5th September - 14.30-15:00pm
- Friday 6th September - 10:00-10:30am
- Monday 9th September - 11:00-11:30am
- Thursday 12th September - 14:30-15:00pm
If you wish to attend one of these information sessions, please contact Paul Chin directly
Nomination Process
Guidance can be found here
Important Dates
Initial expressions of interest – Monday 16th September 2024
Confirmation of draft nominees (to include a reserve) – w/c 30th September 2024
Final submission of applications – TBC
Review by PVC Education and submission to Advance HE - TBC
Key Contacts
Teaching Excellence Awards Lead (TEAL ): Paul Chin, CLT
Deputy TEAL: Lenka Bonovcova, CLT
NTF network representative: Alan Hayes
Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE)
The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) recognises and rewards collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. Introduced in 2016, the scheme highlights the key role of teamwork in higher education.
This year, Bath will be considering applications for the CATE so if you are part of a team which supports teaching and learning, please consider applying.
This year’s nomination process by Advance HE hasn’t been launched yet but you can find more information about the award here.
Internal support
Information sessions (Teams meeting) to find out more about applying for a CATE are being run on the following dates:
- Wednesday 4th September - 11:00-11:30am
- Thursday 5th September - 10:00-10:30am
- Monday 9th September - 15:00-15:30pm
- Thursday 12th September - 10:00-10:30am
If you wish to attend one of these information sessions, please contact Paul Chin, CLT directly.