Awards and grants
The University of Auckland grants and awards
Change One Thing Challenge
Launched in February 2023, the Change One Thing challenge grants small awards to recognise impactful teaching practices.
We’ll be giving out 30 grants of $1,000 each in 2025.
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants are designed to enhance student learning experiences through the integration of teaching, learning and research, and support colleagues as they develop educational leadership capability. The grants fund projects that are aligned to the University’s institutional priorities.
Three streams of funding are available:
- Small scale projects – Development and Innovation Grant
- Medium scale projects – Scholarship of Teaching and Learning / Discipline-Based Educational Research Grant
- Capacity building – Learning Leaders Grant
The growing demand for SoTL Grants received 39 applications in 2024, 28 of which were successful. Comparing the numbers over the last three years, almost 3/4 of all applicants are awarded funding to bring their enhancement of student learning aspirations to life.
Applications typically open in May and close mid-November.
University of Auckland Teaching Excellence Awards
These annual awards recognise excellence in teaching. Successful applicants receive a medal and a prize of $6,000. There are up to five Teaching Excellence Awards made each year in the following categories:
- Sustained Excellence in Teaching (x2)
- Early Career Excellence in Teaching (x2)
- Leadership in Teaching and Learning
Applications open in June 2025.
Heartfelt congratulations to the award recipients for 2024.
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Values and Te ao Māori Principles
These awards are designed to support the aspirations of Taumata Teitei and the vision of a values-led culture. They acknowledge not just the extraordinary work our staff do to meet Waipapa Taumata Rau’s call to excellence, but also the way they go about that work and the enduring impact our staff create through our shared values.
These awards replace the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards.
Nominations open in October 2025.
Congratulations to the previous award recipients.
FHMS teaching awards
The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences offers its own selection of annual awards to support excellence in teaching among its staff – the Butland Teaching Awards and Dennis Pickup Clinical Educator Awards.
FHMS educational research funding
Two streams of funding are available for staff at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences to undertake research into curriculum development (EW Sharman Staff Award for Curriculum Development) and research relating to medical education (Daniel and Olga Archibald Medical Education Research Fund).
FMHS Professional Teaching and Leadership Development Grant
This Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences grant supports improvements in teaching and learning through the development, and financial support, of leaders (or emergent leaders) in teaching and learning for Professional Teaching Fellows (PTFs) and Senior Tutors.
Faculty of Science Awards
The Faculty of Science offers multiple awards, grants and scholarships to support its teachers, including Teaching Development Grants, Teaching Scholarship Grants, and Goldstone Travel Award for PTFs/Senior Tutors.
Business School Teaching Excellence Awards
As part of its annual Staff Excellence Awards, the Business School recognises outstanding educational practices by granting awards in six categories, including excellence in early-career teaching, supervision, innovation, professional programs, and external partnerships.
National awards
Te Whatu Kairangi | Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards
These Awards are coordinated by Ako Aotearoa and recognise tertiary educators who share their commitment to outstanding practice and make a difference to learners.
Two new categories (for Pacific educators and collaborative teaching) were added to the award in 2023, and a new category, Te Tohu Reo Māori, for teaching practice in te reo, has been introduced in 2024.
Scholarships
Academic Career Advancement Programme
The ACAP (formerly DALI) gives mid-phase doctoral candidates a head start in their academic future. It involves a series of regular seminars over two semesters, with a focus on careers in academia, teaching, and research. Tuition is funded by the Academic Career Advancement Award.
Page updated 18/12/2024 (amended SoTL blurb)