Promoting Excellence, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement
AFFiT is committed to raising standards across Africa’s education system. Through our Institutional Research & Excellence Programs, we promote a strong culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement in teaching, research, and institutional leadership.
These programs recognize outstanding institutions and individuals, encourage healthy competition, and highlight best practices that can be shared and scaled across the education sector.
Our Excellence and Recognition Programs
AFFiT’s awards and benchmarking initiatives are designed to celebrate achievement while encouraging institutions and educators to consistently improve their performance and impact.
Best College of Education of the Year
This award recognizes Colleges of Education that demonstrate excellence in teaching quality, research output, staff development, innovation, governance, and overall institutional impact.
The program encourages institutions to:
- Strengthen academic standards and teaching quality
- Support staff research and professional development
- Promote innovation and effective leadership
- Improve student outcomes and institutional reputation
2. Best Lecturer of the Year
The Best Lecturer of the Year Award honors lecturers who show outstanding commitment to teaching, research, mentorship, innovation, and service to their institutions and communities.
Award recipients are recognized for:
- High-quality teaching and student engagement
- Research contribution and knowledge sharing
- Mentorship of students and early-career educators
- Positive impact within and beyond their institutions
3. Best Provost of the Year
This award celebrates Provosts who demonstrate strong leadership, effective administration, support for research and staff welfare, and a clear vision for institutional growth and reform.
It highlights leaders who:
- Drive institutional improvement and accountability
- Support innovation and research excellence
- Promote staff development and good governance
- Strengthen institutional culture and performance
4. Best Vice-Chancellor of the Year
The Best Vice-Chancellor of the Year Award recognizes university leaders who provide visionary leadership, support research and innovation, and strengthen academic excellence and institutional impact.
The award promotes:
- Strategic leadership and institutional transformation
- Investment in research, teaching, and staff development
- Accountability and transparency in university governance
- Contribution to national and continental education goals
5. Best Researcher of the Year
This award honors researchers who produce high-quality, impactful research that addresses real challenges in education and society.
It recognizes researchers who:
- Conduct solution-driven and ethical research
- Contribute to knowledge, policy, and practice
- Demonstrate innovation and collaboration
- Translate research into real-world impact
Why These Programs Matter
Through the Institutional Research & Excellence Programs, AFFiT:
- Encourages high standards across institutions
- Promotes transparency and accountability
- Recognizes leadership and innovation
- Builds motivation and professional pride
- Creates role models and best-practice examples
- Supports continuous improvement in education
These programs help institutions and individuals learn from one another and raise the overall quality of education across Africa.
Who Can Participate?
These programs are open to:
- Colleges of Education and Universities
- Lecturers, researchers, and academic staff
- Institutional leaders and administrators
- AFFiT members and fellows
- Education institutions aligned with AFFiT’s values
AFFiT awards are based on fairness, evidence, and measurable impact. All nominations are reviewed using clear and transparent criteria to ensure credibility and trust.
While each award has specific focus areas, the general criteria include:
- General Evaluation Criteria (Across All Awards)
Nominees are assessed based on:
- Demonstrated Excellence: Consistent high performance in teaching, research, leadership, or institutional management
- Innovation: Use of new ideas, methods, or approaches that improve outcomes
- Impact: Clear evidence of positive results on students, staff, institutions, or communities
- Leadership & Integrity: Ethical conduct, accountability, and positive influence
- Sustainability: Long-term value and potential for replication or scale
Alignment with AFFiT Values: Commitment to professional growth, collaboration, and education transformation.
Our Commitment
AFFiT is committed to fair, transparent, and credible recognition processes. All awards are guided by clear criteria, evidence-based assessment, and professional review to ensure integrity and trust.
Take the Next Step
If your institution or professional work reflects excellence, innovation, and impact, AFFiT provides a platform to be recognized and celebrated.