What are the HISA Awards?

The HISA Awards give students the chance to thank the staff and students who have inspired and supported them. Awards are available for academic staff, support staff and students. The annual awards are judged by a student panel and winners are selected on the quality of the nomination, and not the number of nominations received for a particular member individual. 

This year we would love to hear about all the people who inspire you and make your experience at UHI better! Please complete as much detail as possible in your nomination. For example, if you want to nominate your lecturer because you think they are great, make sure to tell us and the impact this has had on your student experience.

Make sure to read the information about each of the award categories before submit!

---

What are the categories?

The categories this year are....

Most Inspiring Lecturer 

This award recognises lecturers who inspire students to achieve as much as they can through their approach to teaching and their engagement with both students and subject content.   

You may be inspired by a lecturer’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and their genuine passion for their subject area; you may appreciate how approachable, friendly and helpful they are; feel your input is always valued and respected; enjoy interesting, thought- provoking lectures/tutorials which use new and varied teaching methods enriching your learning experience; your learning experience is fun!   

Most Engaging Video Conference Lecturer 

This award recognises lecturers who demonstrate an exceptional use of video-conferencing technology (e.g. Webex or MS Teams) to fully engage with and enhance the UHI student experience.  

Your learning experience may be enhanced by a VC lecturer who always takes the time to welcome and chat to you (and every other student in the VC Class); makes you feel involved and motivates you to participate fully in VC classes; you may enjoy the stimulating, interactive presentations and the different teaching methods used by the tutor to keep the subject relevant and interesting.  

Most Engaging Online Lecturer 

This award recognises lecturers delivering learning mainly online, those who engage, motivate and inspire students through their exceptional and innovative use of the UHI virtual learning environment (VLE/Brightspace) to support students’ study.  

You may feel your lecturer deserves the title of most engaging online lecturer as they have kept you motivated and engaged through their use of technologies; your lecturer may have made you feel like you are part of a learning community and not on your own; communicate with you regularly and always respond promptly to questions etc. their teaching methods bring the subject alive and leave you wanting to know more!  

Best Assessment Feedback 

This award recognises tutors who excel in the provision of assessment feedback to students and recognise its central importance in student learning. 

You may feel your tutor excels in providing feedback as they always provide feedback that is detailed, easy to understand and shows clearly how you can make improvements; the feedback is individualised recognising and supporting your particular needs and always constructive. 

Best Personal Academic/Learning Support 

This award recognises staff who excel in the provision of support and guidance to students, particularly on an individual basis through their role as Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), Learning Development Worker (LDW in Moray), Personal Development Advisor (PDA in Inverness), also sometimes known as Studies Adviser. 

Your learning experience may have been enhanced by a PAT/studies support staff member who have taken the time to get to know you; keeps in touch; is available, approachable and responds quickly to your enquires; is supportive and understanding and able to direct you to resources/sources of help; has enabled you to continue with your studies.    

Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor 

This award recognises supervisors who show exceptional commitment and ability to help students undertake a piece of self-directed research.  

You may feel that your supervisor’s academic expertise, knowledge and insight, as well as patience and understanding was crucial in enabling you to conduct and complete your research; you may have benefitted from the regular meetings your supervisor arranged; and felt you were challenged constructively aiding you to develop your critical thinking skills.  

Best Support Staff (Non-Teaching) 

This award recognises that there are a whole range of staff that have an impact on your student experience, not just teaching staff.  For example: Student Support/Services; Librarians; UHI Helpdesk/VC Master; Finance Office; Learning Centre receptionists – anyone that doesn’t have a teaching or academic/learning role – who is your ‘hidden hero’?  

You may feel there is a non-academic/teaching staff member who you want to pay tribute to as they have enhanced your student experience; perhaps they have always provided you with great service and gone out of their way to help you; they may have taken the time to get to know your name and build a working relationship with you; or perhaps their advice/guidance/support has made a real difference to you as student. 

Best Student Voice Representative (SVR) 

This award recognises Student Voice reps who have made an exceptional contribution to serving their class or course through their role as Student Voice Rep. 

 They may have done this by bringing about positive change to your class/course; ensuring you and your classmates are kept informed; providing you with a strong representation at course committees/student rep meetings; providing effective solutions to problems; making you aware of and encouraging you to get involved in HISA activities.   

Most Inspiring Student – The Students’ Choice 

This award recognises inspirational practice by a student and sums up what is great about a UHI student.  

This is the students’ choice, so we want to know how another student has inspired you. This may be through their sporting excellence; difficulties they have overcome to achieve their goals; positive change they have brought about through campaigning/representing the student voice; their academic achievements; their commitment and hard work in voluntary work/supporting charities; they have gone above and beyond to engage students through their organising of events/activities; has positively raised the profile of HISA/UHI in the local and national press.  

HISA Sporting Club of the year 

This award recognises the outstanding achievements of a HISA sporting.

Achievements could include building and/or sustaining a HISA Sports Club; increase in membership and student engagement; enhancement of the Club’s (and HISA and UHI) reputation locally, regionally or nationally through sporting performance; fundraising efforts to secure match funding and/or securing funding from external sources; commitment and dedication of club members to ensure efficient running of club.

HISA Society of the year 

This award recognises the outstanding achievements of a non-sporting HISA Society or Club.

Achievements could include building and/or sustaining a new society or non-sporting club at local academic partner level or UHI regional level; increase in membership and student involvement; enhancement of the Society’s (and HISA and UHI) reputation locally, regionally or nationally; fundraising efforts to secure match funding and/or securing funding from external sources; commitment and dedication of members to ensure efficient running of club; successful events/campaigns held.

Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

This award recognises a member of staff who has visibly gone ‘above and beyond’ in an inspiring way to support and enable students to engage in learning. 

We want to know how a staff member has enabled you to engage in your studies. This may be through their support to your learning; by helping you personally overcome any difficulties; positive change they have brought to your learning through listening to the student voice; their investment in your academic achievements; their commitment and hard work to supporting their students; their success in engaging students in coursework. 

Above and Beyond - Student Award  

This award recognises a student who has visibly gone ‘above and beyond’ in an inspiring way to support and enable fellow students to engage in their learning. 

We want to know how another student has enabled you to engage in your studies. This may be through their support to the learning of other students; by helping their peers overcome any difficulties; positive change they have brought to others learning; their commitment and hard work in class and in supporting their peers; their success in engaging students in group work – do you have a class hero?  

---

How can I nominate someone?

You'll get an email on the 3rd of April in your University Inbox which will give you a link to nominate someone for a HISA Award!