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News and opportunities
Student Teaching Awards Winners Announced
Last week, the winners of this year’s Student Teaching Awards (formerly the Bristol Teaching Awards) were announced at a special celebration event held in the Student Union’s Anson Rooms venue, in The Richmond Building.
The awards are organised as a collaboration between BILT and the SU.
The Student Teaching Awards (STAs) recognise and celebrate individual staff and teams (both academic and professional services) who have made an outstanding contribution to teaching, the provision of support for students, and/or enhancing the student learning experience. The awards are based solely on student nominations. Over 600 nominations were received this year. Many congratulations to all who were nominated and shortlisted.
Links:
- Full list of this years winners
- Find out more about the Student Teaching Awards scheme and the nominations criteria for each award here
- Full list of this year’s shortlisted nominees for each award
BILT are now accepting applications for funding for 2026/27
In the last edition we brought news of the impending arrangements for applying for BILT project funding for 2026-27. We’re pleased to confirm that applications are now being accepted by BILT.
The closing date for applications is Monday 22 June 2026, 9 am.
As a reminder, BILT provides staff with an annual opportunity to access funding, support and guidance to deliver and/or evaluate an innovative teaching and learning project and disseminate outcomes across the University and beyond. For 2026-27 this will include:
Education Development Projects – Provide funding of up to £1500 and critical friend support. Projects must align with at least one of BILT’s specified project themes for next year which include Future skills development, Assessment design in an AI world, Active and inclusive assessment. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a Project Proposals workshop on the Wednesday 10 June – sign up here.
Associate Projects – An opportunity for staff to work on specific projects funded by and defined by BILT and aligned to the University’s priorities. Interested parties can apply to be a part of an existing project team working on Pedagogic research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) culture.
Just announced: TQEC Try it out sessions available to book from September
As part of BILT’s ongoing programme of training/familiarisation events to support colleagues transitioning to teach at TQEC, we’re pleased to announce a series of ‘Try it out’ sessions at the newly named Bill Brown Forum (Lecture theatre in-the-round) at Temple Quarter.
There are 4 sessions in September and 2 in January. Places are limited to 10 people per session, so sign-up quickly.
Full details and registration links here.
Last minute reminder: Final Voice and Presence workshop next week
The final session of our hugely popular workshops held in collaboration with The Bristol Improv Theatre takes place next Tuesday (9th). Primarily aimed at TQEC colleagues, but open to all, this interactive workshop will explore tools from acting and public speaking to help practice engaging listeners. This includes practical techniques to train and strengthen your speaking voice, projection, warming-up, body language and using authenticity to tap into your inner charisma.
Here are some quotes from previous attendees of this workshop
‘Teaching in the round was genuinely useful; it let me experience the space firsthand and sparked several ideas for making my lectures more interactive through the closer proximity and different dynamic it creates.’
‘It was one of the best training sessions at UoB I’ve attended.’
‘I’d love it if this sort of course was offered to all staff as it is helpful for everyone to know how to do “public speaking” regardless of whether they teach or not, it is just as valuable a skill of meetings and team work.’
‘The workshop was fun and practical with activities for both my own teaching and for helping students with presentation skills’
‘The facilitators were wonderful, and did a great job helping everyone feel comfortable and confident.’
‘Completely fascinating topic, and it was great to explore an approach to teaching from such a different perspective. Very well facilitated and organised, slowly building our confidence and comfort throughout the different activities.’
More information and link to register here.
Final Show Tell and Talk workshop of 2025-26 next week
Our final Show Tell and Talk of the academic year takes place next Wednesday (10th) from 10 am. ‘Effective Practices in Blackboard Course Design’ is an opportunity to get a head start on preparing your 26/27 Blackboard unit courses, which will be released in early June. You’ll be able to see examples of well-designed unit courses from across the institution and review your course against the Baseline Course Standards – a set of effective practices in Blackboard course design co-created with students and staff at the University of Bristol.
Full details can be found on this page.
Blogs and resources
- Students’ views on AI and reflective journals: what do you need to know?
BILT’s Joe Gould with the standout takeaways from three group discussions with students from across the University, focusing on their experience of reflective journals and AI as part of the recent BILT AI/Inclusive Assessment (AI/IA) sessions. - Humans of Bristol – Ali Waseem
BILT Student Fellow, Elliot Green interviews Ali Waseem, an undergraduate Theatre Studies student at the University of Bristol. - Humans of Bristol – Manny Punter
BILT Student Fellow, Elliot Green interviews Manny Punter, a first year undergraduate Mathematics student at the University of Bristol. - Students reflect on AI and coursework assessments
Dr Aisling Tierney shares her summary of the discussions she had with students at the AI-IA (Inclusive Assessment) events hosted by our Student Fellows Pratham Gupta and Gaurav Saxena. Students shared their thoughts on using AI with coursework, the benefits it can bring and the challenges they view with it. You can read other reflections on this series here.
Events
Visit the BILT events calendar for a full list of all our forthcoming events
Programme Director Induction 2026
8 June @ 9:00 am – 5.00 pm, Room 4.10, 35 Berkeley Square
The Programme Director Induction is suitable for new Programme Directors or existing Programme Directors seeking a refresher. The workshops are collaboratively run by BILT, AQPO, and People Development with contributions from Faculty and experienced Programme Directors.
Full details can be found on this page.
Voice and Presence: skills for active and inclusive teaching
9 June @10.00 am – 1.00 pm, Room G.12, Victoria Rooms
Following some hugely popular workshops earlier in the year, The Bristol Improv Theatre are back to repeat their Voice and Presence workshop, in June. They will explore tools from acting and public speaking to help practice engaging listeners. This includes practical techniques to train and strengthen your speaking voice, projection, warming-up, body language and using authenticity to tap into your inner charisma. Please note, these workshops are open to all but in the unlikely event they reach capacity, priority will be given to anyone teaching at TQEC.
Full details can be found on this page.
Show, Tell and Talk: Effective Practices in Blackboard Course Design
10 June @10.00 am – 12.30 pm, Room 2.26, 35 Berkeley Square
This session is an opportunity to get a head start on preparing your 26/27 Blackboard unit courses, which will be released in early June. You’ll be able to see examples of well-designed unit courses from across the institution and review your course against the Baseline Course Standards – a set of effective practices in Blackboard course design co-created with students and staff at the University of Bristol.
Full details can be found on this page.
BILT Annual Conference 2026: Student-Centred, By Design
1 July @ 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, The Victoria Rooms
The Student-Centred By Design conference examines how higher education can more meaningfully recognise and empower students as active partners in learning. Join us for a day of workshops, presentations, keynotes, posters and stalls. Lunch is provided for delegates who register for the full day.
Full details can be found on this page.
The BILT Briefing is published and distributed fortnightly by The Bristol Institute of Learning and Teaching (BILT). If you no longer wish to receive a copy of The Briefing, please send an email to bilt-info@bristol.ac.uk from the address you are registered with, containing the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the title line.
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