კურსი: ASPIRE submission home | AMEE-ESME Learning and Development Hub

  • Choose your Area of Excellence
    ➔
    Click on 'Apply for the Award'
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    Submit the Web Form to generate an invoice
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    Access the Submission Portal (Invoice must be Paid)
    ➔
    Submit your Full Application


    Why apply for an ASPIRE Award?

    The ASPIRE criteria provide a framework for excellence that institutions can apply to their own context. Many institutions use the ASPIRE criteria and the preparation of an application to engage faculty, staff, and students in the development of excellence at their institution.

    Achieving an ASPIRE to Excellence award comes with a number of reputational benefits, highlighting your institution nationally and internationally as a global leader in the areas awarded. Successful institutions can also clearly demonstrate to their students, staff and other stakeholders that the quest for excellence in education is part of their school’s vision and mission, and can also highlight that the educational experience at the school, in the awarded areas, is amongst the best available in the world.

    In addition to the reputational value of an ASPIRE award, the ASPIRE review provides helpful feedback and external validation of the institution’s direction and progress in the development of excellence.  

    Achieving an ASPIRE award also grants your institution access to the ASPIRE Academy, an exclusive network of institutions recognised for their excellence in education 

    Which Area of Excellence should I select?

    All of the Areas of Excellence are listed below and you'll find more information about the criteria for each award in the relevant section. You will be required to submit evidence to demonstrate how you meet the criteria along with your application, so choose an area where you have, or can easily assemble, documentation to support your application. You can apply for more than one award in the same year if you feel you meet the criteria, but note that there is substantial work involved in preparing an application, and this will be increased with each additional application.

    Note that applications for the Inspirational and Innovative Approaches award are by invitation only. If you wish to be considered for this award you will need to submit a letter of intent by the deadline of November 30th. The panel will review all letters of intent and invite shortlisted submitters to prepare a full application.

    How do I prepare to make my application?

    Ensure you've read the criteria fully and downloaded the sample documentation for the award you wish to apply for. You should form a submissions team - we will require contact details of at least four individuals who have been involved in preparing each application. If you are not in a senior leadership role in your organisation, you will also need to get written permission from your Dean or someone of equivalent seniority to proceed with the application on behalf of the organisation. 

    Start to collate your documentary evidence, and identify any gaps that may need to be addressed before you make your application. All of the information about the criteria, the process and the required documentation is available on this page in the sections for each Area of Excellence and you should read this thoroughly before paying the application fee. If you have any questions about the process or the level of evidence required, please reach out to our team prior to payment. You can reach out to the Panel Chair in advance with general questions to determine whether you are ready to submit or would be advised to wait another year.  

    What is the application fee?

    The standard charge per submission is £2,500 for each Area of Excellence to be assessed. This is reduced to £2,000 per submission for two or more submissions in the same twelve-month period. The charge for institutions from emerging economies is £1,500 per submission, and £1,250 for two or more submissions in the same calendar year. View the list of emerging economies to see if your institution is eligible. Payment must be received before you will be able to make your submission. Resubmissions are accepted within three years of the original application, with a charge of £2,000 for a resubmission.

    Standard Charge

    £2,500

    Emerging Economies Charge

    £1,500

    Multiple Standard Submissions

    £2,000 per submission
    for two or more submissions
    in the same twelve-month period.

    Multiple Emerging Economies Submissions

    £1,250 per submission
    for two or more submissions
    in the same twelve-month period.

    How do I pay the application fee?

    When you're ready to apply for your selected Area of Excellence and to pay for the application, you first need to visit the specific Area of Excellence you require. Once you're on that page, you'll find relevant information and details related to the application process. At the end of the activity listed there, you will see the form to request the invoice.

    When filling out the webform, you’ll be asked to provide specific information, including:

    • Your name, email address, and role
    • Your institution's name and address
    • The award(s) you wish to apply for

    Our team will generate an invoice based on the information you provide us and send it to the email address you supplied. You will need to make payment before accessing the submissions portal, so we strongly advise requesting an invoice as soon as you know you want to submit, to allow adequate time to build your application. 

    We'll also request the name, email address and current role of any other members of your institution who will be involved in preparing the institution's application - we normally advise including four to six colleagues in your team.

    How do I submit my application?

    After payment, your team will be created in the submission portal for your selected Area(s) of Excellence. 

    In the submission portal, you can:

    • Review the submission criteria and forms
    • Submit your completed application and evidence
    • Interact with the panel if you have questions

    Can I submit my application in my own language?

    We understand that the evidence which accompanies your submission will include working documents created in your School's local language(s). Supporting documentation may be provided in its original language; however, we require that you provide the narrative part of your application in English, along with an English summary to accompany any non-English documentation. 

    How will my submission be evaluated?

    All submitted applications are reviewed by a team of three assessors who submit their report to be considered by the relevant ASPIRE Panel. Recommendations from the panel are then endorsed by the ASPIRE Board. The reviewers and/or Panel chair may contact you if there are questions about the information you have supplied.

    When will I know if my application was successful?

    Because of the amount of work involved in reviewing each submission, and the need to ensure that all applications are considered fairly, the review process is lengthy and is not usually complete until June. When the Board has met to ratify the decisions of the Panels, submitters will receive the decision along with any feedback. If successful, you will be invited to receive your award at the AMEE conference.

    Can I resubmit if I was not successful?

    Yes, we welcome resubmissions in the same or different categories, but please ensure that all feedback from the Panel has been addressed before making your resubmission. A common and completely avoidable reason for rejection is the resubmission of the same application without addressing the points raised by the Panel. ASPIRE Awards are criteria-based and your feedback will indicate which criteria you have not evidenced in your application, along with how you might address this.

    Can I appeal the decision?

    The ASPIRE Board and panels make the final decision on whether an application has met the criteria. We will consider appeals against the Board’s decision only under highly specific circumstances and usually only where a clear breach of policy or process can be demonstrated. 

    You should contact us on ASPIRE@amee.org if you have any queries about this or any other aspect of the application process.

  • 2025 Winners

    Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin STELLAR AWARD

    Inspirational & Innovative Approaches to Health Professions Education Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand ASPIRE Award Collaborative Project to Increase Production of Rural Doctors, Thailand ASPIRE Award School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland ASPIRE Award

    International Collaboration in Health Professions Education Columbia University & National Taiwan University for the International Collaboration and Exchange Programme (ICEP Global) ASPIRE Award University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands ASPIRE Award The RCSI/COSECSA Collaboration Programme ASPIRE Award The Alberta Institute, Wenzhou Medical University ASPIRE Award 

    Student Engagement LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore ASPIRE Award Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan ASPIRE Award

    Social Accountability Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Brazil ASPIRE Award The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada ASPIRE Award

    Technology Enhanced Learning Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Brazil ASPIRE Award 

    2024 Winners

    Curriculum Development School of Dentistry, IMU, Malaysia ASPIRE Award

    Inspirational & Innovative Approaches to Health Professions Education Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin ASPIRE Award

    International Collaboration in Health Professions Education Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas ASPIRE Award

    Student Engagement Linkopings Universitet, Sweden ASPIRE Award

    2023 Winners

    Aga Khan Uni Medical College, Pakistan STELLAR AWARD

    Social Accountability University of Miami Leonard M Miller School of Medicine, Florida ASPIRE Award

    Faculty Development Office of the Collaborative Project to Increase Production of Rural Doctors, Thailand ASPIRE Award

    International Collaboration in Health Professions Education First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen Medical University and AMEE UK ASPIRE Award


  • 10 Tips for Submitting a Strong ASPIRE Application

    1. Benchmark Your Work Against Global Standards
      The ASPIRE process provides an excellent opportunity to compare your institution’s practices with global best practices. Use it to assess where you stand and identify areas for improvement. It’s not just about showcasing what you’re doing well, but also about learning how to improve.
    2. Align Your Application with ASPIRE Criteria
      Pay close attention to the specific questions and criteria outlined by ASPIRE. Make sure you answer all the questions clearly and directly, and support your statements with evidence of your achievements. This demonstrates rigor and accountability.
    3. Show Evidence of Continuous Improvement
      Highlight your commitment to ongoing improvement. The panel appreciates applicants who acknowledge they are on a journey of development. Show how your institution is working to evolve and enhance its assessment practices.
    4. Use Accreditation Processes to Your Advantage
      If you have recently undergone accreditation, much of the evidence and thinking needed for your ASPIRE application may already be available. Organize it into a cohesive narrative that answers ASPIRE's specific requirements.
    5. Be Clear and Strategic in Your Narrative
      Present your story in a clear, structured way that communicates your institution's strengths and achievements. Organize your responses logically to make it easy for the panel to follow your application.
    6. Collaborate and Seek Feedback
      Engage with peers, experts, and previous applicants to gather insights. Participating in conferences and speaking with others can help you refine your application and provide valuable feedback before submission.
    7. Don’t Strive for Perfection—Focus on Progress
      The ASPIRE process isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about demonstrating how you’re making strides toward improvement. Acknowledge areas where you can grow and present data or case studies showing your progress.
    8. Ensure Strategic Timing
      Timing your application well can be beneficial, especially if you are already engaged in assessment or accreditation activities. Utilize these moments to gather evidence and present a solid case for your submission.
    9. Reflect on Feedback
      Whether positive or critical, feedback from the ASPIRE panel or other external sources can provide valuable insights into your strengths and areas to improve. Use it to refine your assessment processes further.
    10. Be Proud of Your Work
      Pride in your work is important. Show confidence in your application, but also be open to constructive feedback that will help your institution continue to grow and improve.


  • For an institution to be regarded as achieving excellence in the area of assessment, there should be evidence of an outstanding programme of assessment, which can be demonstrated to actively promote learning in order to achieve the curriculum objectives, provide a fair assessment of learner achievement, and ensure patient safety by only allowing competent individuals to progress and graduate. The notion of excellence also embodies the active engagement with scholarship and a desire to seek continuous improvement in the area of assessment of competence.


  • A curriculum is a statement of the intended aims and objectives, experiences, outcomes and processes of an educational programme (Grant, 2006). A curriculum describes all the ways in which a training or teaching organisation plans and guides learning. This learning can take place in groups or with individual learners. It can take place inside or outside a classroom. It can take place in an institutional setting like a school, college or training centre, or in a village or a field. It is central to the teaching and learning process (Rogers and Taylor 1998). 

    The focus of this ASPIRE award is on curriculum development, not primarily on the curriculum itself (although inevitably that has to be considered as part of the evaluation of its development).


  • Faculty development refers to all activities health professionals pursue to improve their knowledge, skills and behaviours as teachers and educators, leaders and managers, and researchers and scholars. (Steinert Y. Faculty Development in the Health Professions: A Focus on Research and Practice. NY: Springer, 2014.). An institution that has achieved excellence in faculty development prepares faculty members for their various academic roles with a breadth of faculty development programs, which are evaluated for impact and which contribute to the scholarship of faculty development. 

  • This ASPIRE award focuses on Innovative and inspirational Approaches to health professions and veterinary medicine education. It recognises institutional excellence in innovations that address important gaps and can demonstrate impact. These could include overcoming economic, cultural, technological, or other barriers that move health professions education forward on a local, national, or international level.

    The subject of the submission may also in part be covered in other ASPIRE award programs (e.g., Curriculum Development, Social Accountability), but here the focus is on innovation and exemplary efforts to overcome contextual difficulties. 

    The criteria for excellence in this category involve innovations that are well planned (e.g., based on needs assessments), successfully implemented (e.g., overcoming barriers over an extended period of time), well studied (e.g., with robust program evaluations), and programs that inspire others to consider similar improvements (e.g., through presentations and publications).

    If you are interested in submitting an application for this category, please review the application criteria and submit a letter of intent initially, and the team will contact you with more information on making your full submission. 


    • Innovative and Inspirational Approaches: Submit a Letter of Intent დავალება
      გაიხსნა: სამშაბათი, ოქტომბერი 28 2025, 12:00 AM
      დასრულება: ორშაბათი, ნოემბერი 17 2025, 11:59 PM

      If you wish to apply for the ASPIRE Award in Innovative and Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education, please ensure you have read the criteria and application form thoroughly and then submit your letter of intent by November 17th 2025. There is no charge to submit a letter of intent but you will need to pay the full application fee if you wish to proceed with your application following feedback from the panel. Copies of the submission criteria, application form and instructions for submitting your letter of intent are attached for reference.

      You will need to login or create an account to submit your letter.

      Once logged in, select 'add submission' to see full instructions and upload your document. Selecting 'save' will create a draft submission which can be edited later. To submit your your letter you will need to save a draft and the use the 'submit' button to finish your submission. Please contact us on ASPIRE@amee.org if you need any help with the submission process.

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    • Apply for the Award Book

    • Link to Innovative and Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education submission portal URL

      (Available on payment of the application fee)


  • In recent years, the need for international collaboration in all sectors has become increasingly vital; we only have to consider the speed at which the new Covid-19 vaccines have been developed and rolled out to appreciate the importance of global collaborations.

    In health professions’ education (HPE) too, multiple examples exist of individuals, groups, organisations, and associations collaborating to respond to the crisis and share educational practice. This response includes AMEE, which has provided educational and collaborative support through webinars, specific publications and conference activities.



  • Simulation in healthcare education is a “technique, not a technology that replaces or amplifies real experiences with guided experiences that evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive manner” (Gaba 2004). Simulation may include a range of technologies and educational contexts that include but are not limited to: simulated (standardized patients), simple and partial task trainers, full body patient mannequins, virtual reality, augmented reality, haptic, hybrid models, and simulated environments. An institution that has achieved excellence in healthcare simulation education ensures it is well-designed (embedded in appropriate educational theory), and integrated into the curriculum, uses it as an adjunct to patient or health systems care training and/or assessment experiences, and provides for outcome driven measures that are continuously evaluated for quality and improvement.


  • The essence of social accountability of a school is their engaging, partnering with, and responding to the needs of their communities, regions and nation (noting that some social accountability activities may involve all three levels whereas others may predominately involve the community, or region, or nation).

    In combining the work of the Global Consensus for the Social Accountability of Medical School and its own deliberations in the area, the ASPIRE Panel has developed criteria for Excellence in Social Accountability of Medical Schools approved by the ASPIRE Board, to encompass four domains:

    1. Organisation and function of the school;
    2. Education of doctors;
    3. Research activities;
    4. Contribution to health services for its community, region, and nation.


  • For a school/programme to be regarded as achieving excellence in student engagement, there must be specific evidence provided in the application that students actively participate in a variety of areas within and external to the academic community and that they are consulted about and formally participate in shaping the teaching and learning experience. The school/programme is expected to demonstrate student engagement in the following four areas: 

    •  Student engagement in policy and decision-making activities at the school/programme. 
    •  Student engagement in the provision and evaluation of the school’s education programme 
    •  Student engagement in the academic community 
    •  Student engagement in the local community, in extracurricular activities, and in service delivery



  • There is no ‘universal’ definition of Technology Enhanced Learning (Kirkwood & Price 2014) but a useful broad definition is that used by the AMEE Technology Enhanced Learning Committee is as follows:

    “enhancing teaching and learning by the use of general education technologies with special emphasis on the education pedagogies underlying their use.”

    Technology is increasingly used in both simulation and in the provision of healthcare (medical informatics) but applicants are advised to carefully consider the appropriateness of activities in their application for ASPIRE Recognition of Excellence in Technology Enhanced Learning and ensure that they can demonstrate how they meet the criteria.


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