Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE)
Do you lead a team that works in a truly collaborative way, and has thereby had a demonstrably positive impact on teaching and learning share? If so could your team be a future Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) winner?
The CATE scheme is an external award administered by Advance HE. Introduced in 2016, the scheme highlights the key role that teamwork plays in higher education. Each year the University can nominate one team that clearly demonstrates how it has enabled a change in practice for colleagues and/or students at an institutional or discipline level. The scheme is co-ordinated internally by the Teaching Excellence team (via ITL) and Teaching and Learning Group (TLG). The University also provides significant support for potential nominees through the Teaching Excellence Team.
All teams will be assessed on the evidence provided in the nomination document in relation to the two CATE award criteria:
- Criterion 1: Excellence in the team’s collaborative approach Evidence of excellence in the team’s approach to working collaboratively, commensurate with their context and the opportunities afforded by it.
- Criterion 2: Excellence in the impact of collaborative working Evidence of the team having a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning, including beyond their immediate academic or professional area. Reviewers will be looking for evidence of reach, value and impact to be demonstrated in the evidence within the narrative presented.
Reach, Value and Impact are defined by AdvanceHE as:
- Reach: The scale of influence
- Value: The benefit derived for staff and students
- Impact: The difference made to policy, practice and/ or student outcomes as a result of an activity.
Nomination process
Expressions of Interest in being the university’s nominated CATE team are considered in September each year. Submissions are evaluated by a panel chaired by the Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and the Student Experience and consisting of representation from each Faculty as well as Professional Services. Successful applicants then work intensively with the university's Teaching Excellence Awards Lead (TEAL) to develop a full claim for submission to AdvanceHE the following March.
- Team Leaders should please email their completed Expression of Interest (word document) to the Institute of Teaching and Learning
- Deadline: Thursday 11 September 2025, 6pm
The university would normally expect successful Team Leaders to hold, or be working towards, Senior or Principal Fellowship of AdvanceHE.
- CATE Guidance from AdvanceHE
CATE pipeline programme
If you are considering nominating your team for an CATE award in the next three years, please consider applying to join us for our Pipeline Programme - a series of interactive workshops exploring the award criteria and process, starting in Spring 2026.
For further details about the CATE Scheme and institutional support available please contact Emma Sanders in the Teaching Excellence team.