The CREATE (Cultivating Research-rich Education and Teaching Excellence) scheme offer a range of Learning and Teaching development and resources and deliver the PGCAP and CREATE Fellowship schemes. They were recently nominated by the University to apply for the Advance HE, Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence scheme in 2026.
When the CREATE team came together within BILT, our goal was to make teaching at Bristol the best it could be. In 2020, the University recognised that the support for those who teach and/or support learning at Bristol needed to be reimagined. With a well-established commitment to enhancing teaching at Bristol, the CREATE team’s move into BILT opened new opportunities to collaborate with and support more colleagues. In 2020, the University recognised that the support for those who teach and/or support learning at Bristol needed to be reimagined. Engagement with the previous programmes was uneven, completion rates were low, and staff wanted clearer routes to grow and become recognised for the excellent work they do. The new CREATE team and Scheme grew out of that challenge, building on the original programme’s strong foundations of inclusivity, evidence-informed practice and empowerment, while reshaping it to meet the evolving needs of all who teach at Bristol.
A few years on, that early ambition has become a thriving community. Each year, hundreds of colleagues engage with our programmes, share ideas, and shape the learning experience for Bristol students. At the heart of our work sit two core programmes: the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and the CREATE Fellowship Scheme. Both are accredited by Advance HE and offer staff opportunities to enhance their practice and gain professional recognition for their teaching/support for learning practice. Alongside these, we deliver tailored support for others in key roles, from personal tutors and programme directors to PGR supervisors, helping colleagues feel confident and supported in their teaching.
What we think makes CREATE special is are the principles of inclusion and collaboration which drives our work. We design and deliver programmes with our community, not just for them. Alumni return as mentors. and assessors, and guest speakers, offering guidance grounded in lived experience. We work closely with Schools and Faculties to tailor learning to disciplinary needs. Within our own team, shared leadership is the norm – each member leads a strand of work, but everyone contributes to the bigger picture. It’s this collaborative approach that we really feel keeps us responsive, creative, and connected.
Our collaborative approach has translated into real impact. Since the 2020 relaunch of CREATE, the proportion of Bristol staff with a teaching qualification has nearly doubled, placing the University at the top of the Russell Group and outstripping national averages. In turn, CREATE has contributed to both raising the profile of good teaching and high student satisfaction for teaching. Similarly, our work on PGR supervision has strengthened research culture, with the latest PRES showing notable increases in satisfaction across community, research culture, and overall experience. Members of the CREATE team hold influential national roles, chairing bodies like SEDA, contributing to Advance HE groups, and serving on UKAT committees, ensuring Bristol helps shape sector-wide learning and teaching discussions.
Applying for a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) feels like a natural next step for the CREATE Team. The process has offered us a chance to pause and reflect, to recognise and celebrate the community of practice that has developed around teaching and learning at Bristol. Whatever the outcome, this application marks a moment of pride and gratitude for our team. To every colleague who has engaged with CREATE, shared practice, mentored a peer, or joined a workshop – thank you. Together, we’re helping Bristol remain a place where great teaching is recognised, supported, and continually developed.
