Award Application Form

The Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education are open for entries and will close in accordance with the official timeline published for the respective award cycle (visit for details https://cli-cks.com/zairi-international-awards/)

• Institutions of higher education from across the globe may apply. The application should be completed by a senior administrator and must be endorsed by the Head of the Institution via the submission of an endorsement letter along the application.
• All applications and supporting documents (including annexes) must be submitted in English. Any supporting documents in another language must be accompanied by an English translation.
• All claims made within the application must be supported by clear and relevant evidence, in alignment with the selection criteria of the chosen award category. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the indicative examples provided in the Award guidelines.
• The application should not exceed ten (10) pages, excluding annexes. It shall be submitted in MS Word format or PDF, using single spacing, Arial font (12-point for main text and 14-point for headings, in bold and uppercase).
• Annexes must be clearly referenced within the application and appropriately labeled. Supporting documents should be organized in a structured manner (either within a single document or via a shared digital folder/link), ensuring ease of access for evaluators.
• All annexes must be submitted in English and should provide clear, relevant, and verifiable evidence supporting the claims made in the application. A maximum of eight (8) annexes may be included.
• Where external links (e.g., shared folders, videos, dashboards) are provided, applicants must ensure that access permissions are granted and remain active throughout the evaluation period.
• HEIs may not apply for more than one award category per cycle.
• Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant, or submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
• Applications are evaluated through a two-stage process. Shortlisted institutions may be invited for a virtual meeting (up to 30 minutes) with the Jury.

Note: All Applications to be submitted via Email at inquiries@cli-cks.com within the stipulated timelines. 

Description:
Provide an overview of the institution, its context, and the initiative(s) or project(s) undertaken, including their aims and scope. The write-up should clearly describe:

• The context and rationale for the initiative(s)
• The key objectives
• The target beneficiaries (e.g., students, faculty, community, partners)
• A brief overview of the results achieved

Justification:
Explain why the HEI’s project(s)/initiative(s) should be considered for this award, with explicit reference to the selection criteria.

Clearly demonstrate:

• How the initiative aligns with the specific award category
• What makes it distinctive or exemplary
• Why it stands out compared to similar initiatives

Innovation:
Describe the innovative approaches adopted as part of the initiative(s).

In your response, consider:

• What is new, unique, or transformative about the approach
• How different perspectives, resources, or partnerships were leveraged
• How innovation is contextualized within the institutional and/or regional setting

Impact and Achievements:
Provide clear and tangible evidence of the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of the initiative(s).

Your response should demonstrate:

• Measurable outcomes (where applicable)
• The extent of transformation or improvement achieved
• The impact on identified beneficiaries
• Evidence of sustainability over time
• Additional supporting data and documentation should be included in the annexes.

Adaptability:
Explain how the initiative(s) can be adapted, transferred, or replicated in other institutional or contextual settings.

Your response should highlight:

• Key success factors
• Conditions required for implementation in other contexts
• Potential for scalability or wider adoption

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

APPLICANT
Winning higher education institutions will be asked to nominate one senior representative to represent the institution. The name of the representative must be communicated within five (5) days of the announcement of the award winners. Representatives will be invited to attend the award ceremony in person. In the event of travel restrictions or unforeseen circumstances, alternative arrangements will be made and communicated in due course to the winning institutions.

PROMOTION & COMMUNICATION
CLICKS reserves the right to publicize and promote the finalists as well as winners through various communication channels and promotional media, both regionally and globally. This may include the use of pictures, recordings, and texts supplied by each of the shortlisted/winning institutions. It also includes descriptions and dissemination of specific projects and initiatives carried out by the institution.

DATA PROTECTION
By taking part in this award, applicants agree that their personal details will be included in a database owned by CLICKS, which will be the sole custodian of such data for the purpose of managing the Awards. CLICKS will not share or disclose applicants’ personal data to third parties without prior consent, unless required by law. Applicants also have the right to access, correct, or request removal of their data and may exercise these rights at any time by submitting a written request to inquiries@cli-cks.com.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CLICKS owns the intellectual property rights for all materials produced in relation to the Awards, including texts, photos, films, documentaries, and associated content, as well as the trademarks and logos appearing in various supporting media. Consequently, applicants may not use, reproduce, or distribute such materials, in whole or in part, unless they have received prior written authorization from CLICKS.

LIABILITY
CLICKS shall not be liable if the call for applications is extended, shortened, modified, or canceled, or if issues arise due to the loss, delay, or failure of transmission of materials via email and/or postal services. Applicants acknowledge and agree that all decisions made regarding the selection of finalists and winners are final and not subject to appeal.

GOVERNING LAW
These rules for the Zairi Awards for Excellence in Higher Education are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates, and in the event of any dispute, such dispute shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Dubai, UAE.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES
Applying for the Zairi Awards for Excellence in Higher Education implies full acceptance of, and compliance with, these rules and conditions by the applicants.