Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence

Please ensure you read and understand all the eligibility requirements listed below:

All categories

• Applicants may only apply for one Stephen Cole Award in any year, in any category.
• Applicants who have previously received a Teaching Commendation are eligible to apply for a Stephen Cole Award two years after receiving the Commendation Award. For team submissions, this includes any member of a winning team application who has contributed more than 40% towards the winning application.
• Applicants who have previously received a Stephen Cole Award are eligible to apply for another Stephen Cole Award five years after receiving the award. For team submissions, this includes any member of a winning team application who has contributed 40% more towards the winning application.
• If you have been an award recipient in the past, your application will need to clearly articulate how the work being presented is sufficiently different to what was previously awarded (for both team or individual applications).
• Should an applicant apply for both a Teaching Commendation Award and a Stephen Cole Award in the same year, they can only be awarded one prize and will be removed from contention from the other award type. 
• NOTE:  These award types are quite different so the same application will not be suitable for submission into both schemes.
• All applicants must have the support of a formal nomination.

Learning and Teaching categories

• Applications are invited from academic and professional staff, from all Faculties and Divisions of the University. Both individual and team applications are encouraged.
• Academic and professional staff who have been employed for a minimum of three years (full time equivalent) at the University of Adelaide, including clinical, affiliate and adjunct title holders, are eligible to apply.

HDR Supervisory Practice

• Open to staff who are registered on the University Supervisor Register and have supervised University of Adelaide HDR students for a minimum of five years (full time equivalent).
• HDR Supervisory Practice applications are restricted to applicants who are categorised as either a Mentor or Principal Supervisor A in the SCRS.

 Team Submissions

• Team submissions can only include members with a contribution of 10 per cent or higher. This means that the maximum number of team members is ten.

NOTE: Unlike the Teaching Commendations all members of the team must meet the above-mentioned selection criteria (length of service etc.) and must be able to demonstrate an extended period of time working with the other team members.

• See above mentioned eligibility criteria for previous award winners who are part of the team.
• The ‘team lead’ should submit the application.  This person should be the staff member with the greatest level of contribution within the team. This person will need to meet all other eligibility criteria (length of employment).
• Nominators should mention that they are nominating for the team, but note who the team lead is. Nominations for individuals cannot be accepted for team submissions.
• See notes regarding the Team Statement of Contribution.

 Important notes:

• The selection process will include checks with HR and Research Integrity to ensure that there are no impediments to bestowing awards.
• To be deemed suitable for an award, an applicant’s behaviour or conduct must be consistent with the University’s values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery as described in the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and the Code of Conduct.
• Previous findings of misconduct, research misconduct and/or serious misconduct may be taken into account during assessment of an application where relevant.
• The University reserves the right not to award if there are any concerns regarding adherence to the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and/or the Code of Conduct.

All Stephen Cole applications require the support of a formal nomination, due by 28 July. 

Complete the Nomination form here

• Nominations are invited from Heads of School/Discipline/ Branch, Deputy Deans and Executive Deans. 
• Nominators are required to submit a brief (150 word) statement in support of their nominee. Nominators must note if their nomination is for a team or an individual.
• As part of the nomination process they will be asked to confirm both the applicant's excellent practice, and that the applicant adheres to the University's Values and Behaviour Framework.
• We encourage nominators to contact their nominee and inform them of their nomination.  Applicants will be required to indicate who their nominator is, and what their relationship is to them when they submit their application.

View the application guides for further information 
SCE Application Guide - Learning and Teaching Categories
SCE Application Guide - HDR Supervisory Category

Award categories

• Excellence in Teaching and Support for Learning
• Excellence in the Leadership, Support and Enhancement of Teaching 
• Excellence in HDR Supervisory Practice

View the application guides for further information on Categories and for detailed information on the sub-categoriesSCE Application Guide - Learning and Teaching Categories
SCE Application Guide - HDR Supervisory Category

All applications for Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence will be assessed by a Selection Panel on the evidence provided in support of the criteria for each category. Further information can be found in the application guides.  

Submissions must follow the Application Template.  Download the Template here

Each application for a Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching must include the following elements:

Written Application (up to six pages total)

1. 25 word Citation 
2. 200 word (maximum) Overview of context and contribution.
3. Written statement of distinctive contribution and evidence of its impact 

Appendix

1. Reference list.
2. Two x Letters of reference.
3. Supporting materials.
4. Curriculum Vitae.
5. Individual SCRS supervision dashboard (for HDR Supervisory applicants only).
6. Team Statement of Contribution (if applicable).

Submissions must follow the Application Template.  Download the Template here

Submissions are due by 9.00am Monday 15 September 2025.

Applicants will receive an email of confirmation once their applications have been received.  If you do not receive this email please contact teachexcellence@adelaide.edu.au for confirmation.

Detailed information regarding the Submission process can be found within the application guides.

Applications will be assessed against the selection criteria by a selection panel, consisting of:

• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) - Convenor
• Dean of Graduate Studies (or nominee)
• one Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching)
• one Deputy Dean (Research) for HDR Category applications only
• one previous Stephen Cole the Elder Award recipient

Important note:

• The University reserves the right not to award if there are any concerns regarding adherence to the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and/or the Code of Conduct.

Each year up to five Stephen Cole awards are made.

It is anticipated that at least one award will be made in each of the three categories; however, the Selection Panel reserves the right to award in fewer than three categories should the selection criteria not be met.

All recipients will be awarded $8,000 which will be credited to a project code of their choice (consultancy funds preferred).  Prizes cannot be split, with teams required to nominate one project code for the entire amount.

Vice-Chancellor and President’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Each year, one successful Stephen Cole applicant may also be selected to receive the Vice-Chancellor and President’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and will be awarded an additional $2,000 in prize money.

The recipient of this award will be announced live, at the Celebration of Learning and Teaching.

All successful applicants will be presented with a certificate of achievement at the annual Celebration of Learning and Teaching event, which has been scheduled for Thursday 13 November 2025.

Family, friends and work colleagues are encouraged to attend this event. The results will be publicly announced following the award ceremony.

The Stephen Cole the Elder Awards were established through donation made to the University of Adelaide by a descendant of Stephen Cole the Elder, pioneer South Australian colonist, and were first presented in 1991.  You may view rules of the donation here.

A range of resources are available on the Resources for Applicants page (staff log in required) including information session recordings, previous applications, important definitions and more.

See the key dates above for information on other sessions you may like to attend throughout the year.

Depending on their availability, you can also be matched with a mentor (previous recipient) who can review your submission and provide editing advice. Please contact us to find out more.