We Are Chemistry wins Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2025

The prestigious Collaborative Award for Teaching ExcellenceLink opens in a new window (CATE) has been awarded to We are Chemistry (WaC) – a pioneering student-staff partnership in the Department of Chemistry that has transformed engagement through collaboration.

We are Chemistry (WaC) is a student-staff partnership in the Department of Chemistry that puts collaboration at the heart of everything we do. Established in 2022, the team empowers students as genuine partners in educational transformation, creating lasting change that extends far beyond the department.

Led by Dr Tom Ritchie and Adam Alcock, the partnership has delivered a range of high-impact outcomes: from co-designed curriculum modules and peer-support networks, to the founding of the Warwick Black Chemistry Society. The initiative has already made a measurable difference—improving lab skills, boosting extra-curricular participation, and narrowing the awarding gap for Black students. Dr Tom Ritchie said,

“What makes WaC special is that it's genuinely student-led. We learned early on that traditional engagement models weren't working - students felt disconnected and many were struggling to belong. So, we flipped the approach entirely. What's really exciting is how this has grown. The collaborative principles we developed with our Student Interns became the foundation for Warwick's Building Belonging Framework, which now shapes strategy across the entire university and beyond.”

Adam Alcock added

“This award means everything to our Student Interns they’re the ones driving this work. When students see that their leadership and innovation is being celebrated at this level, it validates what we've always believed: that genuine partnership transforms education.”

Congratulations to the team for this well-deserved recognition by Advance HE!