2026 CASS Awards for Excellence in Education
The aim of these awards is to recognise and celebrate educators and their teams (both academic and professional) who have delivered significant and sustained contributions that support the teaching and learning goals within the College’s strategic plan, the ANU by 2030 and the ANU Learning and Teaching Strategy.
In 2026 the College of Arts and Social Sciences will offer teaching and learning awards across four categories, and one Supervision award.
- Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)1 award of $7,500
- Excellence in Student Experience1 award of $7,500
- Outstanding Contribution to Curriculum Reform1 award of $7,500
- Excellence in Tutoring or Demonstrating4 awards of $2,000
- Excellence in Supervision*1 award of $7,500
Full information packs can be found in the Resource Section.
* Please note that the Excellence in Supervision award follows a separate process. Please see Excellence in Supervision information pack in the Documents section below.
Application process and tips
- A student and colleague nomination portal will be open from 22 September – 6 October, and colleagues will be notified of any nominations by the CASS Education team.
- Applications are aligned closely with the ANU Academic promotions process. You can use this application as a draft or framework for your next promotion round and receive feedback in a low-risk environment.
- Applications (excluding Supervision award) include:
- details of applicant(s) including Achievements relative to opportunity statement (optional)
- case for award (1 x A4 page)
- supporting evidence (max x 3 A4 pages)
- CV (1 x A4 page, if submitting as a team 1 x A4 page per member)
- Applicants must submit their applications for the awards via the corresponding application portals by 5pm Tuesday 27 October:
- Excellence in Education awards – IDEA, Student Experience, Curriculum Reform and Tutoring (open from 8-27 October)
- Excellence in Supervision award (open from 8-27 October)
- The Head of School/Director of Centre in conjunction with the School Exec and/or School Education Committee shortlists the applications and submits the finalised applications to the College for consideration. Application quotas per school/centre are based upon FTE.
Eligibility
- All academic staff in the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), full time or fractional, continuing or contract can be nominated. Professional staff can be nominated as part of a team.
- Except ECRs who may apply after having been employed at ANU for at least 1 year, all nominees must have been employed at ANU for at least 3 years. They must also be a member of staff at the ANU during the period of the Selection Committees’ deliberations and decision.
An ECR is defined as an academic with up to 5 years research and/or teaching experience since the award of their PhD, or equivalent, (not including career interruption due to international relocation; caring responsibilities, disability etc.)
Tutors must have completed at least 24 hours of tutorials between 01 January and the end of Week 12 of Semester 2 and have been employed in this capacity at ANU at any time during 2026.
- The College strongly encourages team applications. In team nominations, the team leader and at least one staff member must have been employed at CASS for at least one (1) year.
Note: Excellence in Supervision applicants must check the eligibility criteria in the Excellence in Supervision information pack in the Documents section below.
Key dates 2026
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 22 September – Tuesday 6 October | Student and colleague nomination portal open for applications (closing at 11:59pm on 6 October) |
| Thursday 8 – Tuesday 27 October | Application portal open (closing at 5pm on 27 October) |
| Wednesday 28 October | Schools and Centres receive applications from CASS Education |
| 5pm Thursday 5 November | Schools/Centres to provide shortlisted names to the CASS Education team. |
| Mid November | CASS Awards panel evaluates submissions |
| Early December | Award winners announced at CASS end of year celebration event |
Resources and application information
Documents
- 2025 CASS Awards for Excellence in Education info (PDF, 118 KB)
- 2025 CASS Awards for Excellence in Supervision (PDF, 133 KB)
- 2025 CASS Excellence in Education Indicators (PDF, 69 KB)
- 2025 Education Research and Service Indicators (PDF, 303 KB)
Nomination Portal
Excellence in Education + Excellence in Supervision
Nominations open until 6 October 2026
Application Portal
Excellence in Education Awards (IDEA, Student Experience, Curriculum Reform & Tutoring)
Applications open until 27 October 2026
Excellence in Supervision Award
Applications open until 27 October 2026