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NTFS and CATE Awards

National Teaching Fellowship Scheme and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2025

Congratulations to Dr Kevin Morgan (Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) and Dr Gary Mitchell, (Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences), who each received a National Teaching Fellowship in 2025.

Advance HE has opened this year’s National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) with a submission date of 11 March 2026 for both Schemes.   Advance HE has provided some general feedback on the applications received to NTFS 2025 and CATE 2025 to support the development of this year's applications.

The NTFS recognises, rewards and celebrates individuals working in UK higher education who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession. In 2025, the University can nominate up to three individual members of staff who teach and/or support learning in higher education for the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme. The NTFS 2026 Guidance document provides details about the Scheme and the criteria. A set of videos to guide potential nominees through the NTFS Award criteria is available online.

The Association of National Teaching Fellows is hosting virtual roadshows on National Teaching Fellowships: is it for me?, Evidencing excellence: what does it look like?  and Getting over the finish line:  what are the final steps? These sessions are free to colleagues in Queen's.  Dates and further details are available on the Advance HE Teaching Excellence Awards website.

The CATE scheme recognises and celebrates collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. The Scheme highlights the key role that teamwork plays in higher education. Each award will recognise a team which has enabled a change in practice for colleagues and/or students at an institutional or discipline level.  The University can nominate one Team that can clearly demonstrate impact on teaching and learning through collaboration.

Each team should demonstrate direct engagement with higher education students. Although there is no requirement for students to be members of the team, a team should clearly demonstrate how students are directly engaged in their work. The CATE 2026 Guidance provides details about the Scheme and the criteria.

You can book to join one of the CATE Roadshow events which outlines the CATE application process and provides practical guidance and suggestions from previous CATE winners.  These webinars are free to colleagues in Queen’s.

Institutional Process for Potential Nominees

Colleagues wishing to be considered as a Queen’s nominee for either scheme in 2026 are invited to submit an Expression of Interest by completing the MS Form by Friday 28 November 2025. The Centre for Educational Development (CED) will provide advice and support to selected nominees in developing and formatting their final applications for submission to Advance HE.

For any queries, please contact Olivia Hamill at O.Hamill@qub.ac.uk.

Queen's University NTF/CATE Recipients

Dr Kevin Morgan, 2025

Dr Gary Mitchell, 2025

Dr Emma McKenna, 2024

Dr David Cutting, 2024

Dr Paul Hamilton, 2024

Queen's University Science Shop, 2023

Dr Aidan McGowan, 2021

Professor Lezley-Anne Hanna, 2018

Professor Gerry Gormley, 2018

Professor Philip Hanna, 2017

Dr Joe Duffy, 2014

Dr Tess Maginess, 2013

Prof Brian Whalley, 2008

Mr David Gibson, 2007

Prof B Milton-Edwards, 2004

Professor Vicki Tariq, 2003

Professor Carol McGuinness, 2001