WATE Judging process
About the judging process
Each teaching or supporting teaching department recommends at least one staff member and one student to serve as faculty judges. Judge recommendations need to be mutually agreed between departments and judges. Recommended judges need to be able to commit to both stages of the process (depending on the number of nominations, some judges might then be released from Stage 2 judging).
Upon judge recommendation, the WATE team assigns judging roles as Reviewer 1, Reviewer 2, or Reviewer 3 (an experienced judge who steps in if needed). They are organised into faculty-based teams to reflect disciplinary expertise. Note that judges will not review nominations from their own department, and all allocations are checked for conflicts of interest.
Before reviewing, all judges complete a calibration exercise and meeting to ensure consistency and fairness. Each staff–student pair then reviews nominations independently, gives scores (0–5 per criterion), and, in Stage 2, provides brief feedback for nominees.
The WATE team collates scores and, where needed, involves Reviewer 3 to help finalise decisions and confirm the award winners.
The approximate judge time commitment is 10-12 hours in total.
| Date |
3/11-1/12 |
24/11-28/01 |
3/02-10/02 |
3/02-10/02 |
10/02-12/03 |
13/03-13/04 |
14/04-11/05 |
15/05 |
| Item |
Depts nominate judges |
Stage 1 nominations period |
HoDs confirm nominations |
Judges’ allocations |
Stage 1 Judging |
Stage 2 nominations |
Stage 2 Judging |
WATE Winners ratified |
| Description |
Depts nominate judges (one staff judge and one student judge per dept to serve in both stages) |
Students, staff, depts nominate colleagues (incl. self-nominations) for the Awards |
The WATE team notifies relevant HoDs of nominations and asks for confirmation |
The WATE team informs the judges of the allocations, asks to report Conflict of Interest, sends calibration sample |
Judges attend their preferred calibration meeting, followed by reviewing the nominations |
Shortlisted nominees informed of nominations (incl. opt-out option), Stage nominees submit statements |
Judges review the statements |
The WATE team notifies the winners & depts. Winners are invited to celebrate their awards at the Education Conference 2026 in June 2026 |