In this paper we examine how reward systems can contribute to the development of teaching and learning in higher education. We do this in relation to a reward system developed at the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University in Sweden, where the overall strategy for academic development is to influence and modify the local culture towards a scholarly approach to teaching and learning. Consequently, an important feature of a successful reward system is its capacity to bring about cultural changes.

We discuss criteria, related to reward systems, on three levels. Assessment criteria are used to evaluate candidates for rewards, in our case focusing on the student learning process and a scholarly approach to teaching and learning. Internal criteria are used to discuss the structural features of a reward system intended to identify and reward excellent teaching. Systemic criteria are used to evaluate possible impact by a reward system on the culture of the institution being considered.

Our findings point towards a significant impact on the local culture and preliminary investigations indicate that we do reward good teaching.

Keywords: rewarding excellent teaching, criteria, academic culture