# Rewards and recognition

**Source**: https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/awards-and-grants/
**Parent**: https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/

[Rewards & recognition](https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/awards-and-grants/)

menu

1. [Home](https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz)
 — Rewards and recognition

## The University of Auckland grants and awards

Small change Big impact

*Image: Adobe Stock*

### Change One Thing Challenge

Launched in February 2023, the Change One Thing challenge grants small awards to recognise impactful teaching practices.

Each recipient receives $1,000 towards professional learning.

[Find out more](https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/awards-and-grants/change-one-thing-challenge/)

*Image: anonymous on Pixabay*

### The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants

These 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 demand for SoTL Grants saw 28 applications in 2025, 18 of which were successful. Comparing the numbers over the last four years, almost 3/4 of all applicants are awarded funding to bring their enhancement of student learning aspirations to life.

Applications typically open in June and close in November.

[Find out more](https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/staff/education-office/programme-leaders0/teaching-grants-and-awards/scholarship-of-learning-and-teaching-grant-programme.html)

Congratulations to the [previous grant recipients](https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/awards-and-grants/sotl/).

### 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 seven Teaching Excellence Awards made each year in the following categories:

- Sustained Excellence in Teaching (x3)
- Early Career Excellence in Teaching (x2)
- Leadership in Teaching and Learning
- Outstanding Service to Teaching and Learning Environments

In 2025, a new category has been added—Outstanding Service to Teaching and Learning Environments. This award is open to both professional and academic staff, and is intended to recognise our colleagues whose primary role is one of support and/or service, for example: curriculum development managers, learning technologists, and learning designers etc.

Additionally, provision has been made for an additional Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award to accommodate a team application.

Finally, from 2025, we will now award Leadership in Teaching and Learning on an annual basis.

Applications for 2025 closed on 8 September.

[Find out more](https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/staff/education-office/programme-leaders0/teaching-grants-and-awards/university-of-auckland-teaching-excellence-awards.html)

Congratulations to the [previous award recipients](https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/awards-and-grants/uoa-teaching-excellence-awards/).

Discover | Whakatōmene

### Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Values and Te ao Māori Principles

These awards are designed to support the aspirations of our Taumata Teitei (vision and strategic plan) and the vision of a values-led culture. They acknowledge not just the extraordinary work our staff do to meet Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s call to excellence, but also the way they go about that work and the enduring impact our staff create through our shared values.

Nominations typically open in August and close in November.

[Find out more](https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/intranet/work-personal/career-development/vc-values-awards.html)

Congratulations to the [previous award recipients](https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025/02/21/vc-awards-values-and-te-ao-maori-principles.html).

### Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

#### 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.

[Find out more](https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/fmhs/about-the-faculty/fmhs-staff-awards/teaching-awards.html)

#### U21 Health Sciences Group (HSG) Teaching Excellence Award

This award celebrates exceptional educational scholarship across the U21 HSG network. The award is open to member institutions of the Universitas 21 network.

Nominations are received in June and announced in August.

[Find out more](https://u21health.org/2025-teaching-excellence-award)

#### 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).

Applications open in September and close mid-December.

[Find out more](https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/staffonly/teaching-and-learning/educational-research-funding.html)

#### 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.

Applications open in September and close mid-December.

[Find out more](https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/staffonly/teaching-and-learning/leadership-development-grant.html)

### Business School

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.

[Find out more](https://www.link.auckland.ac.nz/en/staff-excellence-awards/teaching-excellence-awards.html)

### Faculty of Engineering and Design

#### Top Teacher Awards

This award is presented annually to fifteen teachers who have made a significant impact to the learning experience of their students. Recipients are decided by popular vote from the students themselves.

#### Teaching Development Awards

The purpose of this award is to recognise initiatives and effort from staff who have improved an aspect of their teaching or courses. The intention is to help foster a culture of teaching experimentation. Applications are received in Semester One at the end of the mid-semester break.

#### Teaching Development Fund

The Fund is designed to support continuous improvement in learning and teaching in Engineering and Design Education. This is for a current/future teaching innovation, and is available to all Faculty academic staff who have a teaching role. Applications are accepted in the mid-semester break of Semester One.

#### Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards

Application criteria are aligned with the University of Auckland Teaching Excellence Awards—Early Career Excellence, Sustained Excellence, Excellence in Leadership—and are a good ‘stepping stone’ towards applying for either the wider University award or the Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards.

[Find out more](https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33082/pages/te-foed-teaching-fund-and-awards)

### Faculty of Science

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.

Applications typically open in August and close in September.

[Find out more](https://www.sciencestaff.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/teaching-and-learning.html)

## 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.

The awards include:

- Kaupapa Māori Award – presented to individuals or groups whose practice incorporates te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori.
- Le Moana Mua Award – for Pacific educators, available to both individuals and groups.
- General Award – with specified criteria applicable to both individuals and groups.
- Te Tohu Reo Māori – award, presented to individuals, recognising the practice of kaiako (teachers) who teach te reo Māori.

2026 nominations will open in June.

[Find out more](https://ako.ac.nz/programmes-and-services/te-whatu-kairangi/)

Congratulations to the [previous winners](https://ako.ac.nz/programmes-and-services/te-whatu-kairangi/awardee-community) of this prestigious award.

## Scholarships

*Image: Alexander Grey on Unsplash*

### 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.

[Find out more](https://research-hub.auckland.ac.nz/event/ACAP)

## On this page

### University of Auckland grants and awards

- [Change One Thing Challenge](#change-one-thing)
- [The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants](#sotl-grants)
- [University of Auckland Teaching Excellence Awards](#tea-awards)
- [Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Values and Te ao Māori Principles](#te-ao-maori)
- [Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences](#fmhs)
- [Business School](#business)
- [Faculty of Engineering and Design](#foed)
- [Faculty of Science](#fos)

### National awards

- [Te Whatu Kairangi | Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards](#ako-aotearoa)

### Scholarships

- [Academic Career Advancement Programme](#acap)

*Page updated 17/12/2025 (minor edit to SoTL blurb)*