Excellence Award in University Education Development at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Taj)
The Excellence Award in University Education Development (TAJ) is an annual award of appreciation, approved by the Council of the Deanship of Academic Development (78) on 29/02/1444H and endorsed by H.E. the President of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University on 09/03/1444H. The Deanship of Academic Development is presenting this award to represent the culmination of its vision, which emphasizes "empowering the academic community to innovate and impact education." The award seeks to recognize outstanding contributions that support strategic visions at the national and institutional levels:
- Saudi Vision 2030, focused on the development of education, raising the quality of university performance, and developing human capacities.
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University’s vision, which aspires to attain key strategic goals that emphasize leadership and excellence locally and globally: providing high-quality educational services, promoting social responsibility, and consolidating the values of the university.
TAJ Award Principles
- Encourage and appreciate creativity and innovation in teaching and learning
- Recognize the ability of the academic community in all academic ranks and disciplines to excel in teaching and learning
- Support for the professional development practices of faculty members, lecturers and teaching assistants
- Value and care about individual, group, and interdisciplinary teaching and learning practices
- Awareness of the impact of education on students and society
- Adopt partnership to ensure the sustainability of the award
Vision
The award adopts the vision of the Deanship of Academic Development: "Empowering the academic community to innovate and impact education"
Mission
To recognize outstanding contributions to excellence in university education and innovative models in teaching and learning.
Target Audience
Faculty members, lecturers, teaching assistants, and contributors to the development of university education, including individuals and entities from inside and outside the university, as determined by the award round/year.
What is the TAJ Award?
TAJ is an award of distinction to recognize the efforts of the recipients and their excellence in the fields of developing university education according to the award round. The award includes a certificate of appreciation and merit for the name of the Award/year. The Award does not include any financial incentives.
General Award Conditions
- A committee for the award is formed based on the recommendation of the Council of the Deanship of Academic Development. The TAJ Award Committee shall manage all related work of the Award, and perform its tasks in a way that achieves the objectives of the Award and enhances its sustainability and development, conducts its meetings and works under the supervision of the Deanship of Academic Development. The Committee submits its recommendations to the Council of the Deanship of Academic Development for approval.
- Applications and nominations for the award are accepted in Arabic and English.
- Those interested must adhere to the specified deadline for submitting nomination applications and complete all the required evidence described in the Award Portal "Taj" within the specified times of the Award round.
- The Award Committee may withhold the Award when the submitted evidence does not meet the minimum required in accordance with the stated criteria.
- The process of nomination shall be based on the extent to which the criteria and conditions announced for the award round have been met, and the recommendations of the Award Committee and the decisions of the Council of the Deanship of Academic Development shall be final.
- Those who have previously won the Award are eligible to apply again.
- Whoever undertakes the judging processes for the Award -in any way- shall not be nominated for the Award of the same round.
TAJ Award First Round 1444 H/2022-23 G
Target Audience
Faculty members, lecturers, and teaching assistants, at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University.
Categories
- Category 1: Active Learning Practices – Completed Educational Practices (implemented during the years 2020 and 2021)
- Category 2: Active Learning Practices – Ongoing Practices (to be implemented during 2022-2023)
Application Requirements (TAJ Award First Round 1444 H/ 2022-23 G)
In addition to the general conditions of the award, the following must be observed:
- The application must be in one language only: Arabic or English.
- The applicant must select only one of the categories specified for the award round.
- Completion of the “Portfolio Document” according to the approved template and without adding or deleting any parts in the template.
- Submission of the “Portfolio Document” through the TAJ portal within the period specified in the timetable, along with the electronic form on the portal.
Selection Criteria (TAJ Award First Round)
The selection process focuses on 6 criteria (of 20 standards):
- Compliance with the Award procedures and conditions (Exclusion Criterion)
- Active learning practices (Main Criterion)
- Student-centered learning
- Advanced teaching, learning and professionalism
- Originality and creativity of practice
- Effective teachers' personality via personal interview with TAJ Committee (for short-listed candidates only).
- The detailed criteria for differentiation, based on the portfolio and personal interview, are as follows:
|
# |
Criteria |
Standards |
Assessment |
Total (100) |
|
1 |
Compliance with the Award procedures and conditions |
An Exclusion Criterion: Applicable (accepted request) Not applicable (exclude request) |
Applicable (accepted request)
Not applicable (exclude request) |
Yes -or- No |
|
2 |
Focus on active learning practices ** (Main Criterion) |
The portfolio includes teaching and learning practices that focus on students' involvement in the learning process, other than listening and memorization. Faculty-facilitated practices support students' deep learning and help students reflect on what they are learning. |
Applicable (accepted request)
Not applicable (exclude request) |
Yes -or- No |
|
3 |
Focus on student-centered learning |
7 Standards |
50% of the full score must be achieved |
Full Score (42) |
|
3.1 |
|
The portfolio reflects a strong understanding of how students learn |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
3.2 |
|
Includes innovative methods of teaching and evaluation that are related to the intended learning outcomes of the course and that support students’ achievement of the intended learning outcomes |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
3.3 |
|
Includes innovative methods of teaching and evaluation that contribute to achieving the graduate attributes at the university |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
3.4 |
|
Includes ways to increase effective student engagement in the learning process |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
3.5 |
|
Includes effective methods of providing constructive feedback |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
3.6 |
|
Includes evidence of meeting learner needs and enabling different learning styles |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
3.7 |
|
Includes teaching and learning practices that promote the acquisition of lifelong learning and twenty-first century skills |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
4 |
Advanced teaching, learning and professionalism |
5 Standards |
50% of the full score must be achieved |
Full Score (30) |
|
4.1 |
|
The teaching and learning practice promotes higher levels of learning (deep learning) |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
4.2 |
|
The practice enhances the relevance of course content to real-life experiences |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
4.3 |
|
Innovative use of educational technologies in course design and preparation |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
4.4 |
|
The portfolio includes evidence of students' work demonstrating advanced levels of learning |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
4.5 |
|
Includes an interest in individual improvement and development through participation in faculty professional development activities, peer observation, and peer evaluation. |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
5 |
Originality and creativity of practice |
3 Standards |
50% of the full score must be achieved |
Full Score (18) |
|
5.1 |
|
Includes evidence illustrating the authentic and unique nature of classroom practices |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
5.2 |
|
Practices involve innovative and creative ideas or procedures |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
5.3 |
|
Support the practice with research results or a close link to relevant studies and research |
Distinguished (5-6) Excellent (3-4) Very good (1-2) Good (0) |
|
|
6 |
Effective teachers' personality via personal interview with TAJ Committee (for short-listed candidates only) |
3 Standards
|
0-10 |
Full Score (10) |
|
6.1 |
|
The candidate demonstrates sincere care and enthusiasm for students and their needs. |
Distinguished (3) Excellent (1-2) Very Good (0) |
|
|
6.2 |
|
The candidate has a thorough understanding of how students learn and effective educational practices. |
Distinguished (3) Excellent (1-2) Very Good (0) |
|
|
6.3 |
|
The candidate is active in the community of practice within the department/ college/university/ field. |
Distinguished (3-4) Excellent (1-2) Very Good (0) |
|
Timetable (Award First Round)
|
Procedure |
Date |
|
The Award Committee encourages all those interested to complete the application portfolio document and all required evidence before the application date specified for the Award round. |
Before 12 March 2023 |
|
Beginning of the period for those interested to submit the portfolio document through the electronic portal "TAJ" and attach the required evidence |
12 March 2023 (Beginning of the third semester) |
|
End of the period for those interested to submit the portfolio document through the electronic portal "TAJ" and attach the required evidence |
01 April 2023 |
|
Review of applicants' portfolio documents by the Award committee |
02-20 April 2023 |
|
Completion of the evaluation of applicants' portfolio documents |
20 April 2023 |
|
Approval and notification of the final list of candidates |
01-07 May 2023 |
|
Completion of the final requirements for notified and approved candidates |
14-18 May 2023 |
|
Announcing the winners of the Excellence Award in University Education Development (TAJ) |
28 May 2023 |
|
Honoring the winners (within the activities of the annual exhibition of university teaching and learning TLEX23 at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University) |
29-30 May 2023 |
