NTFS 2016 Winners
The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme(NTFS) is run by the Higher Education Academy to recognise and celebrate the absolute highest standards of learning and teaching across higher education. This year, Warwick is extremely pleased to announce that three new National Teaching Fellows have been selected from our colleagues. This is an incredible honour for each of the Fellows as well as underscoring the success Warwick has achieved and maintained in learning and teaching.
Professor Christopher Hughes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), commented:
"The National Teaching Fellows Scheme is designed to celebrate excellence in learning and teaching in higher education. We are incredibly proud that Margaret, Rachel, and Peter have had their sustained hard work on behalf of our students recognised. To have one colleague recognised as an NTF is a great achievement. This year, however, Warwick is the only university in the UK to have three recipients – the maximum that any institution can be awarded. This is a testament to the wide range of high quality work done creating world-leading learning and teaching environments at Warwick. The NTF award is nationally recognised and gives Fellows the chance to further develop leadership roles in learning and teaching."
Professor Peter Corvi
Professor (Finance)
Profile
Professor Peter Corvi has been teaching Finance for the past two decades. During that time, he has taught a wide range of UG, MBA and MSc modules and has held a number of senior administrative roles including Director of Studies at the ICMA Centre, Reading, and Associate Dean (UG) and Associate Dean (WP) at Warwick Business School. He has been short-listed twice for a Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence, receiving a commendation in 2006 and an award in 2010. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Foundation Fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy.
Peter led the team that designed and developed a new Foundation Year entry route to Warwick Business School’s UG programme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who do not meet the requirements for direct entry. The WBS Foundation Year admitted its first cohort of 25 students in October 2015, and each of those students has gone on to successfully complete the Foundation Year and progress to their UG1 year of study. Peter also introduced the Multicultural Scholars’ Programme (MSP) to Warwick Business School for students from ethnic backgrounds that are under-represented in UK higher education. The MSP is funded from generous philanthropic donations and provides scholars with financial support and a programme of social, cultural and careers-related events throughout their time at Warwick. The first cohort of WBS MSP scholars graduated in July 2016, all with good degrees. Peter’s achievements on these Widening Participation fronts were ‘Highly Commended’ in the Community Contribution category of the University of Warwick’s annual Staff Awards in March 2016.
Peter played a lead role in the re-design of the curriculum of the Warwick International Foundation Programme, a 9-month course that prepares international students for a UK university education in their chosen subject. The University of Warwick has recently decided to bring this provision in-house, and Peter has continued to play a full part in ensuring a successful launch in 2016-17.
Peter intends to continue his own professional development by enrolling part-time in the MA in Educational Assessment at UCL Institute of Education, London in 2017-18.
Rachel Dickson
Associate Professor (WBS)
Profile
Rachel Dickinson’s career in Higher Education began in the Drama and Theatre Education Department at the University of Warwick. During this time, she grew and led a nationally respected Initial Teacher Education programme for Drama and English teachers, prior to being appointed as a founder member of WBS Create in Warwick Business School. She is Assistant Dean for the Undergraduate programme, developing practice in partnership, placing importance on the situated and culturally unique learner and the role of the arts and humanities in business education.
She is Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy and a Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence holder. In 2009, she was awarded a prestigious Creativity and Performance in Teaching and Learning (CAPITAL) Creative Fellowship. This fellowship was pivotal in informing and driving the academic shape and content of the nationally successful Post Graduate Award in Teaching Shakespeare. Building on from this she became the Academic Course Director for the international distance learning programme Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching Shakespeare on-line and the Masters in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare.
In 2013 she pioneered the introduction of a new, innovative compulsory module for over 600 first year students, unique to undergraduate Business Education in the UK. Situated between academic and vocational study, CORE Practice is committed to supporting student transition between formal and higher education and serves as the foundation for a unique learning experience, positioning creative practice and self-knowledge at the heart of personal and professional development. In January 2017, she will lead on a new immersive undergraduate module; Acting Responsibly.
She has recently completed an MBA in Higher Education Management at University College London, providing her with a platform to further examine the place of creative practice within management and organisational theory. She is currently using arts-based pedagogies to elicit insights into the impact and interplay of institutional and cultural factors on gender equality, and is working on a verbatim theatre.
Margaret Low
Professor (WMG)
Profile
Margaret Low is an inspirational educator with 30 years’ experience in the HE sector. She teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at WMG, University of Warwick and she has been involved in software development, designing and developing a variety of engineering applications. Along with her teaching commitments as Principal Teaching Fellow, Margaret is the Widening Participation Officer for WMG, co-ordinating activities across the department and collaborating with other colleagues within the University.
She organises outreach and other activities for children in local schools, as well as the Royal Institution of Engineering Master Classes, which she has led at the University of Warwick since 2013. Margaret graduated with a Computer Science degree from Aberdeen University and is a Chartered Engineer and IT Professional within the British Computer Society (BCS), holding the position of Education Liaison Officer for the Coventry branch since 2008. In 2014 Margaret received the Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Faculty of Science Public Engagement Award in recognition of her teaching and outreach activities.
A key factor in Margaret’s awards has been her leadership of, and contribution to, outreach and student support activities at the University. She founded the highly successful Warwick Technology Volunteers programme for students across the University and continues to provide the academic leadership and coaching required for the student volunteers and their projects in the community.
Recently Margaret has led a number of projects including the Engaging Young People with Assistive Technologies using 3D printing and CAD, and Engaging Young Learners in CAD and 3D Printing. She is currently investigating how students access Moodle module content, reviewing usage patterns to highlight which materials and resources are visited and areas where materials are less used.