callmefred:.. 'Teacher Of The Year' is invariably given to the FT who will not be offered a renewal..!
But given how avaricious most FT's here in China are, it makes sense for deans not to give such awards to those FT's they'd like to retain.That's because award-winning FT's will likely become haughty, and try to negotiate higher salaries for themselves at contract renewal time,something not in the best interests of the employer.
I haven't come across such awards yet.Maybe that is because it's a practice still spreading nothwards from Southern China!