Now's the time to voice your opinions
26 June 2008
LJMU's Director of Teaching and Learning Development, Sue Thompson has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship worth £10,000 by the Higher Education Academy.
Sue's award is testament to a 20-year career in education, which has seen her work as a teacher, teacher trainer, staff and educational developer and senior manager. Her groundbreaking work includes the development of one of the first Postgraduate Certificates in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (1995) and LJMU's educational development unit, both highly regarded models of best practice. She was also instrumental in securing the £4.85million Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning that is now transforming learning across the University.
Commenting on her award, Sue said: "I am delighted to win this award, which will help LJMU build upon its reputation for innovative practices in teaching and learning. Though this a personal accolade, the award reflects the outstanding work of staff across the university, and particularly in the Learning Development Unit, who are working to enhance the student and staff experience of teaching and learning."
Only 50 lecturers and learning support staff received an award this year under the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS), which was launched in 2000 to help raise the status of learning and teaching in UK higher education.
Funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DELNI), the scheme comprises two strands, Individual National Teaching Fellowship Awards and Projects.
Earlier this month, Sue and two earlier recipients of a National Teaching Fellowship, Phil Vickerman and Professor Tim Cable, secured a significant award of £199,999 to support a three-year project to assess the skills identified by employers, over and above technical and practical abilities, as the key factors most sought after in graduate employees.
Professor Michael Brown, LJMU's Vice Chancellor, added: "I delighted that Sue has received this very much deserved award. Her passion and enthusiasm has helped shape the University's new model of higher education, creating an environment in which staff are encouraged to be creative in their professional practice and engagement with students. Both this and the project award demonstrate that the University is developing exciting initiatives that are advancing best practice in the sector."
Phil Vickerman, Head of Research for PE, Sport, Dance & Outdoor Education, received his Fellowship in 2005 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to teaching, particularly in relation to including children with special educational needs in physical education. Professor Tim Cable, Director of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, was awarded his Fellowship in 2007, reflecting his pivotal role in developing the University's strategic initiative for research-informed teaching.
Sue and this year's other Fellowship winners will receive their awards at a ceremony and dinner in London on 24 September.
Caption: National Teaching Fellowship award winner Sue Thompson, pictured in LJMU's Graduate Development Centre.
