Ninth National Teaching Fellowship received
Two Senior Lecturers have been awarded ‘University Oscars,’ resulting in LJMU receiving a total of nine National Teaching Fellowships from the Higher Education Academy.
The Fellowships go to Wendy Johnston, Food Design and Technology Programme Leader, and Dr Philip Carey, Associate Dean Education, who are both in the Faculty of Education, Health and Community.
Wendy receives her Fellowship for using her experiences and contacts in industry to not only improve the learning experience but also the learning environment. Wendy’s transition from industry to education has been the foundation of her teaching approach and through collaboration and partnership she has brought industry into her classroom and provided her students with many ‘real world’ opportunities. Wendy has also successfully secured sponsorship in excess of £1 million from several companies, resulting in the development of the LJMU Food Academy, comprising a completely refurbished teaching space and resources, which has revolutionised facilities for the students.
Dr Carey receives his Fellowship for his role as both a seasoned teaching practitioner and an educational leader. In a career of over 20 years in higher education, Phil has consistently put the student experience at the heart of his practice, teaching across a diverse range of subject areas in health and social care, education, leisure and sport. As a teacher, he is widely recognised for his enthusiasm, humour and intellectual ability. In his educational leadership role, Phil has championed reward and recognition for good teaching and pioneered professional recognition as a performance indicator for learning and teaching. He has worked tirelessly to ensure this extends beyond academic staff to include all colleagues in support roles, as well as students who undertake teaching activity.
LJMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Weatherill said:
"I am delighted that Wendy and Phil have received these deserved awards. In 2014 Wendy was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence for her work developing partnerships to enhance the student experience, and it is wonderful that her work has received further recognition with this National Teaching Fellowship. Phil is renowned within the University for his exceptional commitment to ensuring that both staff and students’ contributions to teaching excellence are recognised. Indeed, as a result of his efforts, his Faculty is noted throughout the University as a leading force in educational practice. Both are very worthy Fellowship recipients."
Phil cares deeply about students and has long understood the positive contribution they can have on University decision-making. He is one of a few authors to have published work related to student representation, which has been cited in national and international publications and policy documents. His vision for authentic and wholesale student engagement is recognised across the University and he is currently leading on the development of new and improved engagement mechanisms.
Wendy’s approach is all about developing potential. She is an outstanding innovator, a collaborator and a teacher with a passion for enabling others to succeed. She has ambitious goals for herself, her students and the University, and a talent for making things happen. Wendy’s work is unique but also highly transferable and she is a highly successful academic entrepreneur with student learning at the core of her philosophy.
Phil and Wendy are two of just 55 academics to be selected to receive a Fellowship out of over 180 nominations submitted by higher education institutions across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
On receiving his Fellowship, Phil commented:
"Teaching is a great privilege and we are lucky that LJMU students are a pretty wonderful bunch. Therefore, it is an honour to be recognised with a National Teaching Fellowship for doing a job that I love. These awards are given to individuals, but I am very aware that I could not have achieved this without the generosity and support of my colleagues and students at LJMU, and for that I will always be grateful."
Wendy added:
"I feel very privileged to be able to work with amazing students, a fantastic programme team, supportive colleagues and incredible collaborative partners. It is a great honour to have been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship, and it would not have been possible without the support of such a brilliant team of people."
The National Teaching Fellowship scheme is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland, and is open to staff whose teaching or support roles enhance the student learning experience.
Successful nominees were nominated by their institutions and submissions had to show evidence of three criteria: individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence and developing excellence.
For full details about the awards, visit the HEA website