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    Educational Development

    Student Voice Awards

    Awarded in partnership with Harper Adams Students' Union, the Student Voice Awards were established to recognise staff who make an outstanding contribution to students’ experiences.

    Students can nominate staff who have made a difference in their academic life or in their wider day-to-day experience. Staff members can nominate colleagues who make a difference to the student and staff experience at the university. Nominations should be as detailed as possible, as the panel will select winners on the basis of this information. The different award titles have been selected in partnership with the Students’ Union.

    Nominations highlight so many excellent individuals and practices. In addition to making the awards, the scheme can pass on your comments to the nominated staff member so that they receive recognition and appreciation. When making a submission consider ticking the consent box so that your words can be passed to the nominee.

    Closing date: Noon Friday 21st June 2024

    Award: Student Support Champion

    Nominations should show how the staff member has supported the wider student experience in some or all of the following ways:

    • Providing stand-out support of any type that makes a difference to the student experience at Harper Adams;
    • Showing extraordinary care and consideration towards the needs, wellbeing and feelings of students, beyond that which would usually be expected;
    • Being especially helpful to students when settling in to university life;
    • Providing valuable opportunities for students beyond those in the formal curriculum;
    • Working to ensure a diverse and respectful university community;
    • Other means not listed here but clearly specified within the nominations.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Assessment and Feedback Hero

    Nominations should show how the staff member has shown excellence in supporting students in assessment and through their feedback, in any or all of the following ways:

    • Devising and supporting assessments which are valuable, enjoyable and relevant;
    • Supporting the assessment process in a way which is especially effective for students;
    • Providing feedback, of any type, that makes a significant difference to learning;
    • Going beyond the reasonable call of duty to provide exemplary feedback;
    • Using innovative approaches, technologies or techniques in assessment and/or feedback.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Innovative lecturer of the year

    Nominations should indicate how the member of staff has innovated to support students in learning, in any or all of the following ways:

    • Trying new or unusual methods of teaching or providing support for learning, with the deliberate intention of making a difference to student learning or the wider student experience;
    • Drawing on current research around teaching to improve and develop opportunities for learning;
    • Involving students in developing effective ways of teaching and supporting learning;
    • Using technology to enhance teaching in ways that are effective for students;
    • Continually trying to improve and develop their own teaching practice through new ideas.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Excellent Teaching

    Nominations should indicate how the member of staff has demonstrated excellent teaching, this may be through some or all of the following ways:

    • Inspiring interest and achivement;
    • Providing outstanding in-class and/or online resources;
    • Supporting students to exceed their own expectations;
    • Using research and/or experience to make learning relevant;
    • Supporting learners as individuals, recognising different needs;
    • Other means not listed here but clearly specified within the nomination.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Student Collaboration

    Nominations should show how the staff member has encouraged the student voice, and how they value student feedback, in any or all of the following ways:

    • Encouraging honest feedback on teaching, learning opportunities or the wider student experience, from students through appropriate methods;
    • Seeking feedback so that all student voices are valued and recognised;
    • Acting on student feedback to make changes to teaching or the wider student experience;
    • Communicating the ways in which the student voice is making a difference to practices, decisions or plans so that students are clear of how their voices are making a difference;
    • Making students feel like their insights and feedback are genuinely valued and used.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Inclusion and Community Impact

    Nominations should indicate how the staff member has championed community and inclusivity in any or all of the following ways:

    • Being an integral part of their community, be it their department, our Harper community, amongst the wider staff community, with students on an individual or group basis, or further afield;
    • Making sure to always be supportive and encouraging to the staff and students around them;
    • Engaging in or contributing to the organisation of events aimed at bringing members of the community together;
    • Encouraging development of global perspectives
    • Exemplifying the University's Respect and Belonging values through their actions, teachings and research. Sets examples to others and supports diversification and cultural change in the community;
    • Promotes the building of, and contributions to the maintenance of, connections with like-minded impact partners and alumni in the UK and overseas;
    • Celebrating achievements and recognising the impact of others in the community.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students and Staff

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Exceptional Commitment to Sustainability

    Nominations should indicate how the staff member has demonstrated considerable efforts and dedication to sustainability at Harper in any or all of the following ways:

    • Empowering students and staff to champion sustainability throughout their time at Harper;
    • Embedding sustainability into Harper's operations including planning, processes and culture;
    • Co-creating debates and discussions to generate sustainable solutions that can be/have been implemented through research and teaching;
    • Creating and organising network events and activities to encourage collaboration and raise awareness of current and future issues;
    • Developing and setting up initiatives and campaigns that contributes to Harper's sustainability goal or the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students and Staff

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Hidden Gem

    Nominations should indicate how the staff member:

    • Champions the Harper community and creates opportunities for others;
    • Builds connections and helps to deliver the University's strategy on a day-to-basis, going above and beyond to ensure the University delivers the best possible service to the Harper community.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Students and Staff

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Award: Outstanding Colleague Award

    This award recognises an individual, from any department, working in any role, who has made a substantial contribution that makes the university a better place to work.

    The staff nominator should indicate how the nominee has made a difference to them or to others by acting as a role model to others.

    Number of awards: One

    Who can nominate: Staff

    Make a nomination  ❯

    Make a nomination

    Terms and Conditions

    1. Awards will only be made if evidence of excellence and ‘going the extra mile’ is established.
    2. The evaluation panel may verify excellence claims by reference to other available evidence sources, including but not exclusively with a line manager discussion.
    3. The nominator must not advise the nominee that they are submitting the nomination.
    4. Staff or Student Representatives must not, under any circumstances, canvass support from students for themselves or on behalf of others. Any applications which are associated with canvassing will be excluded from the selection process.
    5. Awards of any type cannot be made to individuals who were recognised in the previous year; nominations are nevertheless welcome as a way of providing feedback.
    6. Any individual can make more than one nomination.
    7. Submissions will be evaluated against the criteria listed. The evaluation panel will comprise of select members of Harper Adams Students' Union staff and representatives of the student body (coordinated by the Students' Union).
    8. Awardees will be invited to an event to receive their prize which will be a trophy, certificate and/or gift delivered from the Students' Union.
    9. Nominations should be made by going to the 'Make a nomination' tab.
    10. All nominations must be made before the closing date of noon on Friday 21st June 2024.

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