European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Deadline to submit Short Recommendations: December 10, 2025
Deadline to submit full Applications: February 15, 2026
Central European University is pleased to announce the fifteenth annual European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities. This pioneering award, first announced in 2011 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Central European University, honors academics in the social sciences and humanities who teach at higher education institutions in the European Higher Education Area.
The Diener Prize of 5,000 euros, which accompanies the award, is made possible by a generous gift from Steven and Linda Diener in memory of Ilona Diener.
WHO CAN APPLY?
To be eligible, a candidate must be:
- an academic instructor of any rank in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities; and
- currently teaching at a higher education institution in a member country of the European Higher Education Area.
Current and former faculty members of Central European University are not eligible.
Candidates considered in previous years are welcome to reapply and are encouraged to do so after gaining additional experience that would make their application more competitive.
TIMELINE & HOW TO APPLY
Optional Nominations – Deadline: December 10, 2025 (This step is not mandatory)
Help us find the best teachers. Nominate a colleague or your professor using this form:
We will contact your nominee and invite them to submit a full application. No further action is required on your part.
Individual Faculty Submissions – Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
Eligible individual faculty members should send their application materials to the CEU Elkana Center, TeachingAward@ceu.edu. The CEU Elkana Center will send an email to acknowledge receipt of the application within two weeks of the submission.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
- Personal Statement: Please write a detailed statement about your teaching, including concrete examples of what you have accomplished or learned in your teaching, your approaches to teaching or philosophy of teaching, and a discussion of what your goals are for your teaching in the future (1500 - 2000 words);
- CV: your curriculum vitae (or resume), including teaching-relevant information, and your contact information;
- 2-3 Letters of Support: one from your supervisor; one from a former student (letters from former students should describe the teacher's influence on them). Optional: one from a colleague who is familiar with the candidate's teaching record.
Incomplete submissions and submissions submitted later than February 15, 2026, will not be considered. All submitted documents must be in English.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted no later than the end of March and will be requested to submit additional supporting materials in April.
Please note: Documents other than those required and listed above should not be submitted during the initial application. Candidates will receive a written request for any additional materials.
SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THE EUROPEAN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
All candidates must have an outstanding overall teaching record. They should demonstrate sustained commitment to teaching excellence, rather than simply one-off achievements. In addition, candidates must show exemplary experience in one or more of these practices:
- applying innovative teaching methods;
- combining theory and practice, relevance and scholarly excellence;
- using research elements to achieve excellence in teaching;
- applying problem-based/problem-oriented teaching;
- achievements in encouragement of critical thinking;
- socially engaged teaching
Applications from candidates working with students from less affluent or disadvantaged social backgrounds are particularly welcome.
The selection committee is comprised of distinguished international faculty and higher education leaders, and the selection process is coordinated by the CEU Yehuda Elkana Center for Teaching, Learning, and Higher Education Research. The selection process will be completed by June 2026. The award competition is intended to be conducted annually.
CONFERRING THE AWARD AND THE PRIZE
The awardee will be notified no later than June 2026. The award will be conferred in-person, in Vienna during the Opening Ceremony of the following academic year in September 2026.
Attachment: Call for Applications 2025-2026
