The Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts, Business, Education and Law (SABEL) has established the Educational Excellence Awards (EEAs) to provide Faculty recognition of outstanding contributions to teaching and learning.

The EEAs are intended to acknowledge the significant impact that SABEL educators have on student learning experiences and outcomes by designing programs, practices, and initiatives that enhance learning and promote innovation and continuous improvement in education. The EEAs are also aimed at providing recipients with opportunities to showcase their achievements and strengthen future applications for the WSU Teaching Excellence Awards and external teaching and learning awards.

The EEAs also recognise the important work of the Faculty's professional staff members. Their significant contributions enhance the student experience, improve educational services and systems, support excellence in teaching and curriculum development, demonstrate student-centred service, support diverse student cohorts, build partnerships to enrich learning opportunities, and enable educational excellence within the Faculty.

Webinar and Q&A

Launch Webinar

6 October 2026, 2:15–3:00pm

Please join the launch webinar via Zoom:

Join the Launch Webinar

Drop-In Information Sessions (Online)

22 October 2026, 1:00–2:00pm

Join the 22 October Information Session

11 November 2026, 2:00–3:00pm

Join the 11 November Information Session

Categories

An EEA may be awarded to an individual applicant or a team of applicants under these categories:

1. Excellence in teaching practice
2. Excellence in Indigenous teaching
3. Excellence in research-led teaching
4. Excellence in an educational partnership
5. Excellence in HDR (Higher Degree by Research) supervision
6. Excellence in teaching (Early Career Academic)
7. Excellence in teaching (Sessional Staff Member)
8. Excellence in Professional Staff services.

Application Rounds

The table below outlines the indicative key dates for the application rounds. The precise dates for each application round will be published each January.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

The eligibility criteria for applying for the EEAs are the same as those which apply to the WSU Teaching Excellence Awards. A successful recipient of an EEA is not eligible to submit further applications in the same year or the subsequent year. To apply for any of the EEAs, an individual applicant or team of applicants should submit:

• A short statement of maximum 500 words of the reasons why the award is deserved;
• Evidence, data, or supporting documentation (maximum of two (2) pages; this is optional, but encouraged as it likely to assist the Panel); and
• Endorsement by email from their School’s Dean or Director, Learning & Teaching.

Assessment Criteria

In preparing their statement, applicants are encouraged to consult the below assessment criteria established for the WSU Teaching Excellence Awards.

In preparing their statement, applicants applying for Excellence in Indigenous Teaching are encouraged to consult the below assessment criteria established for the WSU Teaching Excellence Awards.

Assessment Process

Applications submitted for the EEAs will be reviewed through a structured and transparent selection process to ensure fairness, consistency, and recognition of outstanding achievement. The review process will be conducted by the SABEL EEA Panel (Panel) chaired by the SABEL Associate Dean, Education and Students, and members comprising (including where possible a previous recipient of a SABEL EEA):

• One SABEL School Dean;
• Associate Dean Indigenous (or their nominee);
• Associate Dean Higher Degree Research and Honours (or their nominee);
• Associate Dean Global, Partnerships and Advancement (or their nominee);
• Associate Dean Research (or their nominee);
• A senior academic from SABEL (Level D or E);
• An early to mid-career academic from SABEL (Level A-C); and
• A representative from the Division of Education and Students.

As a part of the review process the Panel will:

• Assess applications in accordance with the specified criteria; and
• Provide award recommendations to the SABEL Executive Dean.

Winners of the EEAs will be announced once the award recommendations are endorsed by the SABEL Executive Dean.

Submission Process

Applications must be submitted through an online submission portal, which will be accessible once each round of applications opens.

Enquiries

All enquiries about the application and submission process should be directed to: SABEL.eeawards@westernsydney.edu.au