Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Learning and Student Learning (COCSL)

Applications are welcomed across a variety of nomination categories, which include General, Early Career, Indigenous Educator, Tutor, Learning Design, Advice and Support. Please note, applications under the Tutor nomination category are welcomed from Individuals only. Individuals and Teams may apply for consideration under all other categories. 

Each nomination category is subject to its own eligibility criteria, series of application categories and assessment criteria. Please pay particular attention to these as they are outlined in the pages that follow.  

General  

• Application is open to academic staff, professional staff, and institutional associates. 
• Both individual and team applications are encouraged (teams may include up to ten members). All teams must provide a team name. Applicants are not eligible to be included in more than one Citation application in any year (as an individual and as a member of a team). 

Early Career 

• Application is open to academic staff, professional staff, and institutional associates. 
• An applicant with no more than five years of experience teaching in a higher education institution, including tutoring and part time teaching, may apply for an Early Career Citation by selecting this nomination category in the application form. The five years can be non-sequential and are counted on a semester basis.  
• Both individual and team applications are encouraged. All teams must provide a team name. Applicants are not eligible to be included in more than one Citation application in any year (as an individual and as a member of a team). 

Indigenous Educator 

• Application is open to academic staff, professional staff, and institutional associates. 
• An Indigenous staff member or a team of Indigenous staff members may apply for an Indigenous Educator Citation by selecting this nomination category in the application form. Applicants in this nomination category must ordinarily have a minimum of two years of employment at The University of Queensland. 
• Please note, applications for contributions to indigenising curriculum by non-Indigenous staff are highly encouraged and should be submitted in the award scheme best suited to their contribution. They are not eligible to apply under the Indigenous Education nomination category. 
• Both individual and team applications are encouraged. All teams must provide a team name. Applicants are not eligible to be included in more than one Citation application in any year (as an individual and as a member of a team). 

Learning Design, Advice and Support 

• Application is open to professional staff. 
• Staff members who fill Learning, Educational or Instructional Designer, Design Officer, Advisor, or Learning Support Staff roles and work in curriculum, assessment, active and flexible pedagogies, and work-integrated learning to enhance teaching quality, supporting and enabling academic staff to do the same, may apply for a Citation in this nomination category.  
• Both individual and team applications are encouraged. All teams must provide a team name. Applicants are not eligible to be included in more than one Citation application in any year (as an individual and as a member of a team). 

Tutor 

• Application is open to individuals, not teams, who are part-time or sessional. 
• Tutors, demonstrators, institutional associates or industry fellows, academic title holders, clinical education staff, and/or professional practice supervisors who teach may apply.  
• Course Coordination activities fall outside the scope of this award. If your evidence primarily asserts your excellence in Course Coordination or in activities considered to be beyond the scope of a typical sessional or part-time staff member, you are encouraged to apply for a General Citation rather than nominating for a Tutor Citation. 

Note 

Under all nomination categories where individual and team applications are encouraged, all members of the team must comply with the definition of that category (e.g. in a team application under the Indigenous Educator nomination category, all members of the team must be Indigenous). 

Individuals and Teams should only select a nomination category if it is directly applicable to their circumstances. Those who do not fall into one of Tutor / Learning Designer / Learning Advisor / Indigenous Educator / Early Career nomination categories should select the General nomination category in the application form.  

Applicants are advised that the eligibility criteria, application categories and assessment criteria is differentiated for each nomination category, and this is outlined in the Application Information and Instructions (PDF, 651 KB).  

Please pay particular attention to these differing requirements as you proceed with your application and contact the team if you have any questions about your eligibility to apply, or the most suitable category for your circumstances.  

Expressions of interest and applications for COCSL will be assessed against the chosen category, and the extent to which the submission shows evidence that the applicant’s contribution has: 

• Impacted student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience for a period of no less than three years (two years for early career and indigenous education), not including time take for development or trial of any activity which must be demonstrated in student testimonial, student improvement in results over time, and/or strong SECaT results.
• Gained recognition from fellow staff, the University, and/or the broader community.
• Indigenous Education category: the recognition may include recognition from Indigenous communities and Elders where relevant. 
• Shown creativity, imagination or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments. 
• Drawn on scholarly literature on teaching and learning to inform the development of initiatives, programs and/or practice.
• Indigenous Education category: scholarly literature on teaching and learning to inform the development of initiatives, programs and/or practice, including on Indigenous teaching and learning. 

The case needs to be supported by a diverse range of evidence. It's recommended that the qualitative and quantitative data included are from an extensive range of formal and informal sources including your self-reflection, student learning, student experience and evidence of institutional, peer, and stakeholder interactions.  

Student voices, through examples and quotations, can convey a cogent account of their experiences.

Please note: In assessing the evidence supporting Early Career applications (2 years of evidence of sustained contribution), consideration will be given to your career stage.  

All applications will be assessed relative to opportunity. You can attach a brief summary (max 200 words) of any factors you would like to be taken into consideration by the committee. 

Please refer to the information session resources: Addressing a Learning Challenge (PDF, 165.5 KB) and Evidence for your application (PDF, 107.1 KB) when drafting an expression of interest or full application. 

Please refer to the Application Information and Instructions (PDF, 651 KB) for guidance when preparing your application.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest and Summary of Evidence by 12noon, 6 May 2025.

The EOI online form will prompt for the following information:

• Online form:
  • Applicant details including name, school, faculty, email and team details (if applicable)
  • Nomination category
  • Application category
  • Citation statement (max. 25 words)
  • Summary of your contribution and its context (max. 300 words).
• File upload:
  • Summary of evidence addressing the assessment criteria provided in dot point format (maximum one A4 page)
  • reference list on a separate page (n.b. this is not your publication history, and should only include a list of the works cited in your EOI).
  • SECaT Teaching Summary Report for the last 3 years (i.e. if applying in 2025, this report must provide data for 2022, 2023 and 2024). Applicants may include a short explanation supporting this document if desired.

Stage 2: Full application

A Shortlisting Committee will appraise expressions of interest according to the published criteria and will invite eligible applicants to provide a detailed application by 25 July 2025.

To download previous COCSL applications, browse through our Exemplar award application library (staff login required).

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a workshop facilitated by ITaLI where advice and guidance will be given on the format and content of their COCSL application.

A Selection Committee will appraise applications according to the published criteria and make recommendations for awarding commendations and citations to the University Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Committee for endorsement and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for approval.

1:1 Consultations

Applicants who need 1:1 support are recommended to request a consultation with ITaLI staff.

Information session

21 March 2025 at 10am, 11A-130 (ModWest Building, Saint Lucia)

This session will provide an overview of the Teaching and Learning Award schemes offered at UQ, and tips for structuring an effective expression of interest.

Register for the session

Writing a Teaching and Learning Award application workshop

This session is open to shortlisted applicants only, and will be held on 25 June 2025.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide applicants with guidance on the format and content of their application and discuss tips for a successful application.

Award writing session

This session is open to shortlisted applicants only and will be held on 22 July 2025.

The purpose of this session is to provide applicants with time and space to work on their draft application, with ITaLI staff and previous UQ award winners available to provide advice and clarification.

• View previous COCSL award winners