Tag: Academic Practice

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National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE)

The call for nominations for the 2024 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) is now open and the deadline for nominations is 12 noon on Friday 3 November 2023.

The logo for the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) is a highly prestigious award which celebrates excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education.

The awards support individuals’ professional development in learning and teaching and provides a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes.


The Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence (CATE) celebrate collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning.

The logo for the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence

For more information about the awards, including eligibility and the application criteria, please visit the information pages on the Learning and Teaching website:

Nominations must be a maximum of 1000 words, addressing the relevant criteria and should be sent electronically to ltds@ncl.ac.uk no later than 12 noon on 3 November 2023.

Want to know more? Sign up for our Webinar

If you would like to find out more about NTFS and CATE, please book a place on the webinar taking place on 10 August 2023.

Book NTFS/CATE webinar
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2023 National Teaching Fellowship and Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence Scheme: Internal application process now open

  • Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence logo

We are pleased to announce the launch of the University process to determine our nominees for the 2023 National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) Scheme.

​The NTF Scheme is a highly prestigious award celebrating excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education. The awards support professional development in learning and teaching and provide a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes. The CATE awards celebrate collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning.

In previous years, Newcastle University has had 16 NTFs awarded and three CATE award winning teams. Read more from previous year’s National Teaching Fellows and CATE award winners.

Nominations are welcomed from all members of staff who feel their/their team’s work has a major, positive impact on student teaching and learning. Staff and teams who would like to be considered need to submit a maximum of 1000 words which address the following criteria:

  • Your personal practice/Your team’s practice and why this should be recognised as outstanding
  • Your/your team’s impact on colleagues, both internally and externally
  • Your reflection on the above.

Nominations should be sent electronically to ltds@ncl.ac.uk by 12pm on Friday 11 November 2022.

Find out more
Full information is available on the Learning and Teaching @ Newcastle website. You can also sign up to a webinar for more information and the opportunity to ask questions about the scheme. For any questions, please get in touch with ltds@newcastle.ac.uk.

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Newcastle Educational Practice Scheme (NEPS)

By Chris Whiting, Academic Practice Team

The University’s scheme to support staff in gaining recognition for their teaching is changing. CASAP (Certificate in Advanced Studies of Academic Practice) is being replaced by the Newcastle Educational Practice Scheme (NEPS) as of January 2020. NEPS is the supported scheme for staff involved with teaching and supporting student learning but are new to teaching and learning in higher education.

NEPS has been conceived as a structured approach to supporting staff new to teaching to gain Fellowship of Advance HE (the external recognition of teaching in HE). NEPS is a structured yet flexible scheme that supports staff develop the knowledge and skills they need to enhance their teaching and be able to make a successful claim for Fellowship.  

The Experiential Route remains an option for those with experience of teaching and learning in higher education. And PGRs Who Teach are now supported through Evidencing Learning and Teaching Skills (ELTS) scheme.

Find out more information on NEPS or apply on the LTDS website.

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Find out more about the Academic Practice Team

By Sue Gill, Academic Practice Team Leader, LTDS 

The Academic Practice Team in LTDS supports 3 areas of activity CASAP, ILTHE and UKPSF. All three areas offer support and ideas for PGR students and staff to think about how they support student learning most effectively and have the opportunity to talk to others and share experiences, ideas

Certificate in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice (CASAP)

This programme for staff can lead to recognition with the Higher Education Academy at Descriptor 2, Fellow, of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). The first two of the three 20-credit modules on the programme form the Newcastle Teaching Award (NTA).

Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE)

This blended learning programme provides training to postgraduate researchers, research associates and other part-time staff members who have infrequent teaching responsibilities.

UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)

Support is available for staff to obtain recognition through this scheme which is accredited by the Advance HE. Our internal Experiential Route provides a flexible pathway for staff to gain HEA fellowship on the basis of their experience in teaching and supporting learning.

Links to all these areas can be found on our web page https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ltds/professional/