Teaching Excellence Awards 2026 recognise AI education and support for refugee students at University of Leicester

A pioneer in responsible use of artificial intelligence in university education and a project dedicated to giving refugee-background students the academic English language and skills to study are among the University of Leicester recipients of Higher Education’s highest honours.

Advance HE has announced the recipients of the 2026 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), recognising exceptional individuals and teams whose work is shaping the future of teaching and learning across UK higher education. 

This year, 55 educators have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships, while 15 collaborative teams have received the CATE in recognition of their significant and lasting contributions to student success, innovation and educational practice. 

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme remains one of the UK's highest honours for individuals in higher education, recognising educators who have demonstrated sustained excellence and made outstanding contributions to enhancing the student learning experience. 

Professor Xue Zhou from the University of Leicester’s School of Business has been awarded a fellowship in recognition of her outstanding contribution to higher education through pioneering work in the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI), advancing the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), and championing the career development of teaching-focused academics.

Her work has transformed how universities develop AI literacy for students and staff, embedding AI into curriculum design, assessment and learning in ways that are ethical, evidence-informed and focused on enhancing human learning. As the University of Leicester's Professor in AI in Business Education and the UK's first Dean of AI in a business school, Professor Zhou continues to lead strategic initiatives that advance responsible AI, educational excellence and the professional development of educators, ensuring both staff and students are equipped to thrive in an AI-enabled future.

Professor Xue Zhou from the University of Leicester School of Business said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this fellowship. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of the many colleagues, students and collaborators I have had the privilege to work with. 

“Advancing responsible AI in higher education is not the work of any one individual; it requires collaboration, experimentation and shared innovation. This fellowship reinforces my commitment to working with others to integrate AI in ways that enhance student learning, graduate employability and educational practice.”

Earlier this year, Leicester announced that it will become one of the first universities in the UK to roll out full access to Microsoft 365 Copilot across its entire community. As one of the first Microsoft Frontier universities, Leicester is leading the sector by ensuring inclusive access to AI, equipping its community with the tools and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Alongside these individual achievements, the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence celebrates the power of partnership and teamwork in delivering outstanding educational outcomes. The RefugEAP Programme, run by the University of Leicester’s Sanctuary Seekers’ Unit in collaboration with the Language Centre at the University of Leeds, is one of the projects to be recognised with the award this year. A unique course designed to give refugee-background students the academic English language and skills to study at university, RefugEAP is trauma-informed and specifically designed to cater to the circumstances of those with refugee backgrounds.

Aleks Palanac, Head of Sanctuary at the University of Leicester, said: “At a time of scarce resources across the UK HE sector, not to mention a time of deep political division more widely, coming together and pooling resources to find ways to welcome and meaningfully support students from backgrounds of forced displacement to continue their education feels like a powerful and radically hopeful act. We hope that gaining this award will serve to shine a light on what is possible and inspire further similar collaborations to emerge.”

Deirdre McKenna, Associate Professor at the University of Leeds, added: “We in the RefugEAP team are delighted to have our work recognised through this award, particularly as CATEs emphasise collaboration, and it is collaboration between multiple, diverse stakeholders which is at the heart of what we do - including students, volunteer tutors, charities, and, of course, the two universities.” 

Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive of Advance HE, said: “Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 National Teaching Fellowships and Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence. 

“They exemplify the dedication, creativity and leadership that underpin outstanding higher education. Through their commitment to students and continual enhancement of teaching and learning, they are making a significant contribution to their institutions and the wider sector. 

“I am pleased to recognise their achievements and celebrate the impact they have made on students, colleagues and communities throughout the UK.” 

The 2026 National Teaching Fellows and CATE recipients will be formally recognised at an awards ceremony on 24 September 2026 in Edinburgh.