Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence
Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence (WATE)
The Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence (WATE) celebrate outstanding teaching that transforms student learning and embodies Warwick’s values of creativity, inclusion, and collaboration. Established in the early 2000s, WATE recognises staff, postgraduate researchers who teach, and teams who create inspiring and inclusive learning experiences.
A long-standing and much-loved part of Warwick’s teaching culture, WATE is a living celebration of the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who make a real difference to students and colleagues alike. The awards recognise that excellence in teaching and learning grows from a deep understanding of — and commitment to — our distinctive disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts.
The Staff Awards recognise that excellence in teaching and learning grows from a deep understanding of — and commitment to — our distinctive disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts. The Postgraduate Researchers Who Teach Awards honour colleagues who, while pursuing their own studies, enrich the student experience and strengthen our academic community through their teaching. The Team Awards highlight the power of collaboration, shared purpose, and belonging in building strong, supportive learning communities.
Like the University itself, WATE continues to evolve. Its form may have changed since the early 2000s, but its purpose remains the same: to recognise and celebrate people who make a genuine difference to our students. In 2025/2026, the scheme has undergone a revitalisation to ensure it remains valued, equitable, and forward-looking. The refreshed WATE aims to spark deeper conversations about teaching excellence, strengthen connections across departments, and make Warwick’s educational values even more visible in practice. It also seeks to be more inclusive, introducing self-nomination to empower individuals to share their own stories of teaching and learning excellence. Together, these changes foster a culture of shared learning, celebration, and community across the University.
If you would like to learn more about the changes and the rationale behind them, please contact wate@warwick.ac.uk.
WATE 2025/26 Timeline
| Date |
Item |
Description |
| 3 Nov – 1 Dec 2025 |
Dept support period |
Departments informed of the new process and transitional support available (e.g., Teams call). |
| 3 Nov – 1 Dec 2025 |
Dept nominate judges |
Each department nominates one staff judge and one student judge to serve in both judging stages. |
| 24 Nov – 28 Jan 2026 |
Stage 1 nominations period |
Students, staff, and departments nominate colleagues (including self-nominations) for the Awards. |
| 3 Feb – 10 Feb 2026 |
HoDs confirm nominations |
WATE team notifies Heads of Department of nominations and requests confirmation. |
| 3 Feb – 10 Feb 2026 |
Judges’ allocations |
Judges receive their allocations, report any conflicts of interest, and receive a calibration sample. |
| 10 Feb – 12 Mar 2026 |
Stage 1 Judging |
Judges attend calibration meetings and review nominations. |
| 13 Mar – 13 Apr 2026 |
Stage 2 nominations |
Shortlisted nominees are informed and given the option to opt out. Stage 2 nominees submit their supporting statements. |
| 14 Apr – 11 May 2026 |
Stage 2 Judging |
Judges review submitted statements. |
| 15 May 2026 |
WATE Winners ratified |
WATE team notifies winners and departments. Winners are invited to celebrate at the Education Conference in June 2026. |