Every year, we celebrate the people who make university life better. Society Leaders, Class Reps, Department Officers, Lecturers, Tutors, Lab Assistants, and so many others who give up their time to keep things running and improve the experience for everyone else.
Nominations Are Officially Open
Yes. It’s happening.
Nominations are now OFFICIALLY OPEN for both the Learning & Teaching Awards and the Volunteer Awards and this is your moment to shout about the people who genuinely make your Heriot-Watt experience better.
Before you scroll past, let’s talk about why this matters.
Learning & Teaching Awards: Your Chance to Say Thank You
The Learning & Teaching Awards are completely student-led. That means the power is in your hands.
These awards give you the opportunity to nominate members of university staff who have gone above and beyond. We’re talking about the lecturers who make 9am lectures feel worth it. The supervisors who actually listen. The lab assistants who stay late to help you figure things out. The safeguarding staff who create safe, supportive spaces when you need them most.
If someone has made a difference to your learning, your confidence, or your time at Heriot-Watt, this is your chance to recognise them properly.
This isn’t just about “they’re nice” or “they’re good at teaching”. It’s about highlighting the impact they’ve had on you and other students. Your nomination is what the judging panel will read. It’s what they’ll base their decisions on. So the more thoughtful and specific you are, the stronger your nomination will be.
How to Write a Strong Nomination
You don’t need to write an essay, but you do need to tell the story.
Avoid one-liners. Instead, explain why this person stands out. What did they do? How did they support you? What changed because of their actions?
The best nominations include clear examples that show how the person meets the award criteria. Take a few minutes to read the category descriptions and choose the one that fits your nominee best. Then match your examples directly to that criteria.
Think impact. Think specifics. Think about the difference they’ve made.
Because your words are what bring their work to life.
Volunteer Awards: Celebrating the Students Who Step Up
Behind every smooth-running society, every well-organised event, and every student voice that gets heard, there’s a volunteer making it happen.
The Volunteer Awards celebrate the students who give up their time to make this community better. Society Leaders. Class Reps. Department Officers. Committee members. Event volunteers. The people who stay late, send the extra email, plan the socials, and speak up in meetings.
They don’t always do it for recognition. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve it.
If someone you know has worked tirelessly to improve student life, nominate them. Shine a light on the effort that often goes unseen.
Don’t Miss It
Nominations for both awards are open now and close on Friday 27th February and you can NOMINATE HERE.
This is your opportunity to say thank you in a way that truly counts. A few minutes of your time could mean the world to someone who’s made a difference in yours.
Ready to nominate? Head to the nomination form and make it official 💛