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 who hold Teaching Associate, Teaching Focussed, Teaching & Research, or Clinical Academic positions at levels A - C, in part-time or full-time fixed term or continuing positions, within their first five years of academic employment in a higher education institution.
• Applications must relate to contributions to student learning at The University of Queensland that have been sustained for a period of at least two years.
• 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). 

Tutoring 

• Application is open to individuals, not teams, who are part-time, session or casually employed.
• Institutional associates or industry fellows, academic title holders, clinical education staff, and/or professional practice supervisors who teach may also apply under this nomination category.
• 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 casual 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 select the nomination category directly applicable to their circumstances. Those who do not fall into one of Tutoring / Learning Design / Advice and Support / 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, 906.3 KB).  

Please pay particular attention to the eligibility and assessment criteria—which are different depending on your nomination category—as you proceed with your application and contact the team if you have any questions about your eligibility to apply, or the most suitable nomination category for your circumstances.  

Please refer to the Application Information and Instructions (PDF, 906.3 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 5pm, 27 April 2026.

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).
  • For General / Indigenous Educator / Early Cateer Nominations: SECaT Teaching Summary Report for the last 3 years (i.e. if applying in 2026, this report must provide data for 2023, 2024 and 2025). 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 2026.

To download previous Citations, 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 Citations 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

27 March 2026 at 10am, 11A-131 (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 24 June 2026.

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 8 July 2026.

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 Citation award winners