Central European University is pleased to announce the seventh annual European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities. This pioneering award, first announced in 2011 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Central European University, honors academics in the social sciences and humanities who teach at higher education institutions in the European Higher Education Area.
The Diener Prize of 5,000 euros, which accompanies the award, is made possible by a generous gift from Steven and Linda Diener in memory of Ilona Diener.
Selection Criteria for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching
All candidates must have an outstanding overall teaching record. In addition, candidates must show exemplary experience in one or more of these practices:
- applying innovative teaching methods;
- combining theory and practice, relevance and scholarly excellence;
- using research elements to achieve excellence in teaching;
- applying problem-based/problem-oriented teaching;
- achievements in encouragement of critical thinking;
- sustained commitment to teaching excellence, rather than one-off achievements.
Applications from candidates working with students from less affluent or disadvantaged social backgrounds are particularly welcome.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, a candidate must be:
- an academic instructor of any rank in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities;
- currently teaching at a higher education institution in a member country of the European Higher Education Area (http://ehea.info/page-full_members).
Candidates considered in previous years are welcome to apply for this year's Award.
Current and former faculty members of Central European University are not eligible.
Application and Selection Process
Early-Action Recommendation of Candidates:
Students, Alumni, Faculty Colleagues, and Institutional Leaders are invited to submit a brief Early-Action Recommendation Form. Please consider recommending your best professor or a colleague whose teaching you believe is outstanding.
Early-Action Recommendations must be submitted using the Early-Action Recommendation Form and emailed to TeachingAward [at] ceu.edu . We will contact your candidate and invite them to submit a full application. No further action is required on your part.
Deadline to submit Early-Action Recommendation Form: November 20, 2017.
Faculty Members Please Apply:
Individual faculty members are strongly encouraged to apply directly to CEU for consideration for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities. (Please see details for applying below).
Nominations:
Students, Alumni, Faculty Colleagues, and Institutional Leaders are encouraged to nominate outstanding faculty candidates.
Deadline to submit full Applications/Nominations: January 15, 2018.
Faculty Members -- How to Apply for the Award:
Nominators -- How to Nominate a Faculty Candidate for the Award:
All evidence in support of the applications/nominations should be submitted to Central European University, Center for Teaching and Learning, and will be collected in two stages:
- First stage
Applications: In the first stage, faculty members wishing to apply must submit the following documents no later than January 15, 2018. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. All submitted documents must be in English.
Nominations: Nominations will be accepted from current or former students, faculty colleagues, institutional leaders, and external stakeholders such as representatives of employers or other organizations. In the first stage, nominators should contact the professor they wish to nominate and work together with the professor to compile the following documents which are required to accompany the nomination. The nominator should submit the complete package of materials no later than January 15, 2018. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. All submitted documents must be in English.
- A detailed personal statement written by the candidate about their teaching, including concrete examples of what they have accomplished or learned in their teaching, their approaches to teaching or philosophy of teaching, and a discussion of what their goals are for their teaching in the future (1500 - 2000 words);
- the candidate's curriculum vitae (or resume) and candidate's contact information;
- two letters of support: one from a colleague who is familiar with the candidate's teaching record; and one from a former student (letters from former students should describe the teacher's influence on them);
- contact information for the higher education institution, including both a staff member who would be able to assist in providing additional information on the candidate as well as the relevant person in the institution's press office.
- A detailed letter in support of the nomination by the nominator should accompany the above items.
- Second stage
In the second stage of the selection process, the CEU Center for Teaching and Learning will contact selected candidates and the higher education institution where they teach to obtain additional information in support of the application.
Additional supporting evidence requested in the second stage may include:
- an expanded narrative from the candidate explaining how his/her teaching has made a difference, accompanied by any relevant documents;
- testimonials from former and/or current students, colleagues, university administrators, or others who have firsthand knowledge of the candidate's teaching achievements;
- formal teaching performance documents such as internal evaluation reports (in the case of candidates whose institutions conduct such evaluations);
- a written and/or audiovisual portfolio demonstrating "excellence in teaching" and corresponding impact on students.
PLEASE NOTE: These or other additional materials should NOT be submitted during the first stage of the application process. Candidates will receive a written request for any additional materials, if required.
The selection process is coordinated by the CEU Center for Teaching and Learning. The selection committee is comprised of distinguished international faculty and higher education leaders.
Time frame
- Applications/Nominations for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities will be accepted until January 15, 2018. Applications should be sent electronically to: TeachingAward [at] ceu.edu. The selection process will be completed by June 1, 2018. The award competition is intended to be conducted annually.
- The CEU Center for Teaching and Learning will send an email to acknowledge receipt of the application or nomination within two weeks of the submission.
- In the second stage of the selection process (early March 2018), the CEU Center for Teaching and Learning will contact selected candidates and the higher education institution to obtain additional information in support of the application.
- All candidates will be notified of their status by June 1, 2018.
- The winner is expected to participate in the public recognition of the award (September 2018).
Conferring the Award and the Prize
The award and the Diener Prize will be presented at CEU's academic year opening ceremony in September. The award winner will also be invited to participate in award-related events at Central European University, subject to their availability.
For more information about the award and for the electronic version of the Call for Applications please visit the website of the CEU Center for Teaching and Learning http://ctl.ceu.edu/awards or contact TeachingAward [at] ceu.edu.