Recognition and reward of exceptional academic achievement

Enquiries
Contact person: Prof A van Aswegen
E-mail: Annel.vanAswegen@up.ac.za
Tel: 012 420-2375

Closing date for applications to reach Dean’s Office:  13 July 2012

The applicable provisions of the Regulation are set out below:

1.         BACKGROUND AND PRINCIPLES

1.1       Recognition and reward of exceptional academic achievers in the fields of research, teaching and learning, and community engagement are important elements of the University of Pretoria’s strategy to give effect to its stated vision and mission as contained in the strategic policy documents of the University.

1.2       Exceptional achievement as it is referred to above, implies the maintenance of unrivalled achievement in the core business of the University in research, teaching and learning and community engagement. Excellence in this regard is measured in terms of the University’s two strategic drivers namely international competitiveness and local relevance.

1.3       Nominations for awards in four categories are considered:

2.         CHANCELLOR’S AWARDS (par 1.3 (1) & (2))

 2.1       Four awards, two for research and two for teaching and learning, amounting to R100 000 each, are awarded annually to the best achievers in the respective fields. Candidates for the awards must significantly exceed the criteria applicable to appointment at the level of full professor. [1] The Executive can adjust the amount of the award from time to time.

2.2       Faculties submit complete motivations together with full CVs of the nominated candidates via the Dean to the Selection Committee for consideration, with the proviso that a faculty is limited to two nominations per category.

2.3       The consideration of submissions takes place in light of the broad strategic objectives of the University, which includes academic excellence, international competitiveness and local relevance.

2.4       Academics can only qualify once during a cycle of four years for a Chancellor’s Award. They can, however, be considered simultaneously for the awards for research, and for teaching and learning.

2.5       The recipient of a Chancellor’s Award in a specific year automatically qualifies as an Exceptional Achiever in the ensuing three years, in terms of paragraph 3 below.

2.6       A candidate cannot receive the Chancellor's award and the award as Exceptional Achiever simultaneously.

3.         EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVERS (par 1.3 (3))

3.1       A number of awards amounting to R70 000 per annum for a period of three years (that is R210 000 in total for the three-year cycle) is granted annually to full professors who have already been in the service of the University for at least 2 years in that position,  who have maintained continuous exceptional achievement in each of the fields of under- and postgraduate teaching and learning, [2] research, community engagement and administration, and who enjoy exceptionally high stature among their peers. Excellence in research implies international recognition as a researcher. The criteria for the awards significantly exceed the criteria applicable to appointment at the level of full professor. The award will as a general rule be considered premature if a period of at least two years has not elapsed since the appointment as full professor at UP. The Executive can adjust the amount of the award from time to time.

3.2       The number of awards granted at any specific time during the three-year cycle may not exceed 50 in total. (The group of 50 must include the following persons: persons who automatically qualify as Exceptional Achievers after being evaluated by the NRF as A-rated researchers as set out in paragraph 3.5, as well as recipients of the Chancellor’s award who automatically qualify as Exceptional Achievers in terms of paragraph 2.5).

3.3       Faculties submit full motivations, together with the extensive CVs of nominated candidates, via the Dean to the Selection Committee for consideration.

3.4       Faculties are not limited with regard to the number of submissions that are made annually.

3.5       Any academic who has been evaluated by the NRF as an A-rated researcher, automatically attains the status of Exceptional Achiever for as long as he or she retains such status.

3.6       Deans can be considered for these awards.  Deans may discuss a possible nomination with the designated Vice-Principal.  A nomination will be considered by the Selection Committee after consultation with all Vice-Principals.

4.         EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG RESEARCHERS (par 1.3 (4))

4.1       A number of awards amounting to R45 000 each is granted annually, with the proviso that a maximum of 1 candidate may be nominated by the Faculty of Theology and 2 candidates each by the Faculties of Law, Veterinary Science and Education, while the other faculties may nominate 3 candidates each. Candidates for this award are expected to have made a significant contribution to research recognised both locally and internationally.The Executive can adjust the amount of the award from time to time.

4.2       The awards are granted on the grounds of exceptional achievement in research, seen against the backdrop of the University’s strategic objectives of academic excellence, international competitiveness and local relevance.

4.3       The number of candidates, who receive this award, is limited to a maximum of ten persons per annum (with the exception of P-rated researchers as set out in paragraph 4.6 below).

4.4       The award is only granted to academic employees who have not yet been appointed as full professor or to employees in research posts; with the proviso that a specific individual can receive this award once only.

4.5       Faculties submit full motivations, together with extensive CVs of nominated candidates, to the Selection Committee for consideration.

4.6          Any person who has been evaluated by the NRF as a P-rated researcher automatically attains the status of Exceptional Young Researcher, with the proviso that the candidate will hold this status and consequently be entitled to the accompanying remuneration for each year that he or she retains the P-rating.

4.7          In principle an upper age limit of 40 years applies to this category. Candidates above this age may be considered based on substantiation by the relevant Dean of special circumstances to be considered in exception to the principle.

5.         GENERAL MATTERS

5.1       The onus for the proper motivation of candidates for a specific award lies with the faculty responsible for presenting the submission to the Selection Committee via the Dean. Faculties themselves decide on the procedure for identifying candidates, but proposals must formally serve before the Executive of the faculty concerned, assisted by two members (not necessarily members of the faculty concerned) who have previously been nominated as exceptional achievers, before being forwarded to the Selection Committee.

5.2       The format of submissions must be in line with that of submissions for normal academic promotions.  During the review process by the Selection Committee, the Committee is guided, above all, by peer evaluation of the candidate by respected academics outside the University. It is the responsibility of the faculties to see that such evaluations accompany the submissions.

5.3       The Committee for Senior Awards: Outstanding Achievers and other Awards serves as Selection Committee for all the awards. This Committee comprises the:

• Vice-Chancellor and Principal,
• Vice-Principals,
• Two individuals who are currently outstanding academic achievers (one from the Natural Sciences and one from the Humanities) appointed after consultation with these individuals.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal acts as Chairperson and the Director: Human Resources as Secretariat of the Committee.

Deans will receive documentation from all faculties and will be requested to present the candidates from their own Faculty to the Committee.

5.4       The Director: Human Resources requests submissions once a year, after which the Selection Committee considers submissions and makes the awards by no later than the end of August.

5.5       Awards are presented at a gala ceremony in the following year.

5.6       The monetary component of the award is paid over as remuneration to the recipients at the end of March in the year following the one in which the award was granted. (The awards are fully taxable and tax is therefore deducted.)  Should a recipient resign or be dismissed, for whatever reason, during the year in which the benefit was received, the amount must be repaid on a pro rata basis.

5.7          All employees appointed permanently or on contract in a fully-fledged academic post, post-retirement contract appointments excluded, qualify to be nominated for the awards mentioned in par 1.3. In the case of exceptional young researchers (par 1.3 (4)), employees appointed permanently or on contract in a fully-fledged research post, post-retirement contract appointments excluded, also qualify.

5.8          There may be no appeal against the decision of the Committee, however, should a review of a decision by the Committee for Senior Awards: Outstanding Achievers and other Awards be requested, it will be conducted by the Registrar who can appoint two A-rated academics to assist him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 Annexure A

Recognition and Reward of Exceptional Academic Achievement

Rt 246/11(Amended)

AN OVERVIEW OF CRITERIA FOR THE CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND THE TEACHING AND LEARNING CRITERIA TO BE USED IN THE DETERMINING OF EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVERS’ AWARDS.

The following table attempts to look at the distinguishing characteristics for each criterion relevant to the award:

	Chancellor’s Award	Exceptional Achievers’ Awards
Theoretical and practical underpinnings of nominee’s approach to teaching	Clear articulation of theoretical underpinnings and reflection on how this philosophy has affected curriculum development, teaching and assessment practices and student academic development.	Clear articulation of theoretical underpinnings and reflection on how this philosophy has affected curriculum development, teaching and assessment practices and student academic development.
Effective teaching and assessment at undergraduate and postgraduate level and impact on students' learning	Sustained and distinguished contributions to excellent teaching throughout a long career in higher education with well-developed and well-taught modules.	Sustained contributions to excellent teaching over many years with well-developed and well-taught modules.
Role in curriculum development	Leadership in curriculum innovation: chairing committees for design and development, overseeing implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review, with a particular focus on inquiry-based learning, innovation and provision for extended student academic support.	Participation in curriculum innovation: member of committees for design and development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review, with a particular focus on inquiry-based learning, innovation and provision for extended student academic support.
Curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular support of students, beyond normal teaching responsibilities	Leadership in a variety of activities that promoted student engagement, increased motivation and retention, and enabled the achievement of desirable graduate attributes.	Participation in a variety of activities that promoted student engagement, increased motivation and retention, and enabled the achievement of desirable graduate attributes.
Contributing time and expertise to promoting teaching and learning excellence institutionally, nationally, internationally,	International contribution essential. High level national contributions to policy development. Leadership on professional teaching and learning associations essential.	Institutional and national contribution essential particularly within the disciplinary context (including acting as external examiner, mentoring junior staff, membership of professional associations) but also more generally on committees for selection and admission, teaching and learning committees.
Recognition by peers for contributions in promoting excellence in teaching and learning institutionally, nationally, internationally	International recognition essential, particularly within the disciplinary context but also more generally, including research and publication in teaching.	Institutional and national recognition essential, particularly within the disciplinary context but also more generally, including research and publication in teaching.

Evidence would include some of the following but might also include any relevant documentation or product:

• Peer review reports including contribution of  time and expertise and leadership role  in promoting teaching and learning excellence in the discipline or profession within the institution, nationally or internationally
• Letters from mentees
• Evaluation by HoD
• Student feedback
• Student success rates
• Study guides and clickUP modules
• Creative uses of technology
• Creative integration of curricular community engagement
• Invitations to serve as external examiner, guest lecturer, member of an exchange programme, member of a peer review panel, member of a CHE or HESA (or similar HE body) task team or committee, and any independent acknowledgement of exceptional contributions made in this context.
• Presentation of papers at conferences
• Effective postgraduate supervision and mentoring
• Published articles
• Attendance, completion or qualification certificates showing teaching development
• Examples of assessment
• Awards already awarded
• Evidence of extracurricular involvement in student affairs in support of a conducive academic culture

CURRICULUM VITAE

A template of an extensive CV for Academic Staff is available at: http://www.up.ac.za/services/personnel/policies/w126E.doc

Closing Dates

• Members of staff who wish to be considered for the above-mentioned awards should submit their applications to the Dean concerned by 13 July 2012.
• Nominations for the awards by the faculties should reach the Director: Human Resources by 3 August 2012.

Yours sincerely

Prof A van Aswegen
Director: Human Resources 

[1] An overview of criteria for the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching and Learning and the teaching and learning criteria to be used when considering Exceptional Achievers’ Awards is attached hereto as Annexure A.

[2] See Annexure A attached.