The UGC Teaching Award was launched in 2011 to recognise good teaching. Awardees serve as ambassadors for the UGC, responsible for promoting good teaching practices in the UGC sector.

To further emphasise the importance of high-quality teaching and enhance the impact of the UGC Teaching Award, the UGC initiated the Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Alliance (HKTEA) in 2019 and provides regular funding to support its operation. The HKTEA cultivates a network enabling UGC Teaching Award Fellows to collectively play a sustained role in promoting teaching excellence in and beyond the UGC sector.