President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching

University College Cork is committed to excellence in education and the Teaching Excellence Awards scheme at UCC is the longest-established scheme of its kind in Ireland. These awards recognise and celebrate staff who have made an outstanding contribution in the pursuit of teaching excellence, and who demonstrate innovative and creative forms of teaching, learning and assessment that enhances student learning and student outcomes. Teaching can include course design and implementation and/or research and enquiry into teaching, learning and assessment. 

Dates for the next round of Teaching Awards have just been announced. 

The call for nominations will be earlier this year and will be issued by email on the 2nd March 2026.

Who can be considered for the award?

Excellence in teaching can be demonstrated in many ways, and there are very many examples of excellent teaching in University College Cork. A variety of criteria are used to assess excellence in teaching including ability to engage students and improve student learning, the use of innovative pedagogies and technologies, research into teaching and assessment approaches and dissemination of good practice in teaching.

The award scheme is open to all UCC staff who teach or support teaching including academic staff, support staff, administrative staff, research staff, technical staff, postgraduate tutors and demonstrators. Staff may be nominated for an award through self-nomination or nomination by students, colleagues/peers or alumni.

Nominees who have won a President's Award for Excellence in Teaching in the last five years are not eligible. Individuals who have won a President's Award in the last five years are eligible to be nominated and to apply as a member of a team.

Award Categories

This year the awards are being expanded to create specific categories reflective of different career stages and the diversity of staff that support student learning. Ordinarily one recipient will be recognised from each category. The selection panel may decide to award more than one recipient in each category or not to award in a category.

The award categories are as follows:

• Postgraduate Tutor and Demonstrator 
• Early-Career Teaching Staff (0-5 years teaching in Higher Education)
• Professional Services/ Student Support/ Technical Staff / Library Staff or equivalent
• Mid to Late Career Teaching Staff
• Lifetime Contribution

Individual or team nominations are welcome. For team nominations, the category choice should reflect most of the team members.

Award Criteria

1. Quality of Teaching
2. Curriculum Design
3. Impact on Student Learning
4. Collegiality/Leadership*
5. Scholarly and Evidence-based approach to Teaching

*In the case of postgraduate tutors/demonstrators this can relate to the academic mentoring of students

Further Information for staff on the application process here.

The Annual Awards for Excellence in Teaching 2025 took place in the Aula Maxima on the 4th December 2025. 

Teaching Awards 2025

UCC Staff can view the photos on the Intranet Site.