Dr Kate Cuthbert recognised in Advance HE CATE Awards for National Teaching Repository collaboration | News

August 2026

Collaboration is key for award-winning Kate

By Claire Huggins

Share post:

Read time: approx 4 mins

University College Birmingham is celebrating the success of our Associate Professor and Deputy Dean- Learning and Teaching (School of Health, Life Sciences and Education), Dr Kate Cuthbert, whose work with the National Teaching Repository (NTR) has been recognised in the Advance HE Teaching Excellence Awards 2026.

The NTR team was one of 15 collaborative teams to receive a prestigious Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), for its sector-leading contribution to improving access to high-quality pedagogic practice across UK higher education.

Initially joining as one of the 12-strong NTR team in her previous role, Kate’s work has continued to contribute to the development and expansion of the NTR since its initial pilot in 2020. The national platform shared innovative, evidence based teaching approaches to enhance learning and student outcomes on a global scale.

"This award recognises something I've been passionate about throughout my career: that excellent teaching, curriculum innovation and educational leadership deserve the same recognition as traditional research,” said Kate.

Advance HE Teaching Excellence Award

NTR’s global impact on teaching quality and knowledge sharing

The initiative has been widely praised for its impact on teaching quality, professional development, and the sharing of best practice across institutions. The 2023 OEGlobal Award for Excellence in Open Collaboration followed the team sharing its work at the UNESCO World Higher Education Conference, in May 2022.

Kate’s expertise in collaborative pedagogy, open educational practice and sector‑wide knowledge exchange will now be embedded directly into her work at UCB, strengthening our curriculum and enriching the learning experience for students.

“We're building a culture where everyday scholarship is valued as a genuine contribution to higher education,” Kate explained.

“That might be redesigning a curriculum, evaluating teaching, partnering with students or supporting colleagues' development.”

"Kate's insight and experience will strengthen our commitment to educational innovation and ensure our students benefit from approaches that are shaping the future of higher education."

Professor Gill Brown Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean (School of Health, Life Sciences and Education)

CLIPA strengthens University’s commitment to educational innovation

Kate's national recognition through CATE, reinforces University College Birmingham's commitment to educational innovation and teaching excellence. The award ‘celebrates the power of partnership and teamwork in delivering outstanding educational outcomes’ and it’s these principles that are already informing the work of the University's recently established Centre for Learning Innovation and Pedagogic Advancement (CLIPA).

CLIPA supports academic colleagues to develop, evaluate and share evidence-informed approaches to teaching and curriculum design. By championing the scholarship of everyday academic practice alongside traditional research, the University is fostering a culture where educational innovation is recognised, shared and celebrated; ultimately enhancing the quality of students' learning experiences and strengthening the University's reputation for teaching excellence.

“Kate’s recognition through the CATE award is a powerful endorsement of the values we champion at University College Birmingham,” added Gill Brown, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean (School of Health, Life Sciences and Education).

“Her contribution to the National Teaching Repository demonstrates how collaborative, evidence informed practice can transform teaching and learning across the sector. We are delighted that she brings this expertise to UCB, where her insight and experience will strengthen our commitment to educational innovation and ensure our students benefit from approaches that are shaping the future of higher education.”

What CATE means for students and staff

Kate’s achievement reflects a growing momentum across the University to elevate everyday academic practice and celebrate the impact of collaborative scholarship.

Through initiatives such as CLIPA and the publication of our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030, UCB is investing in the development of teaching that is research‑informed, openly shared and continually improved.

As Kate’s award‑winning expertise becomes embedded across programmes and teams, the University is well‑positioned to enhance student learning, strengthen academic practice and further establish itself as a leader in teaching excellence.