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Warwick International Higher Education Academy

Gwen van der Velden

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Contact details
Email: G dot van-der-velden at warwick dot ac dot uk
Mobile: +44 (0) 7341 072427
Direct line: +44 (0) 24 7652 3050

Professor Gwen van der Velden DBA NTF PFHEA

Currently on sabbatical, establishing a programme on Educational Reconstruction for Ukraine.

Until September 2023: Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (Education)

Former Academic Director of WIHEA (Founding Director)

At Warwick, Gwen van der Velden is Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) and was until 2020 the Founding Academic Director of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy, which consists of around 90 selected Fellows who are all educational leaders in their own right.

Gwen is a member of the Education Executive at Warwick, which is responsible for oversight of the strategic development and operational management of learning and teaching at Warwick. She co- chairs the Student Learning Experience and Engagement Committee (SLEEC) with the SU Education Sabbatical and chairs various other groups. She is a member of Warwick’s Education Committee, the Academic Quality and Standards Committee and several other groups aimed at enhancing the student learning experience.

A 2018 National Teaching Fellow, Gwen has ample international experience, having studied and worked as an educational developer at the Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands) and undertaken a staff exchange with the University of Hyderabad (India) in 2012-2013. Benefitting from research project involvement in Australia and Spain and collaboration with the WIHEA’s sister academy at Monash University in Australia, Gwen enjoys the opportunity to learn from Higher Education Leaders globally. Gwen is also a Principal Fellow of the HEA.

Student Engagement in Learning and Teaching Quality Management:
A Study of UK Practices

(PDF Document) Project ReportLink opens in a new window
(PDF Document) Research Findings ReportLink opens in a new window
(PDF Document) Good Practice GuideLink opens in a new window

In 2012, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) commissioned Professor Gwen van der Velden, Prof Rajani Naidoo, Dr Paulo Pimentel Botas, Dr Alex Pool and Dr John Lowe to undertake research into student engagement practices in UK higher education institutions. A parallel project took place at King's College under the leadership of Dr Camille Kandiko, which explored student views of quality in higher education.

The Bath research resulted in three publications which will, in turn, contribute to the national debate and policy development in this area:

  • an overview report summarising key research findings and implications for policy and practice.
  • detailed research findings.
  • a good practice guide for institutions and students' unions.
Project aims

The main aims of this research project were to:

  • consider student engagement practices across UK higher education institutions and other providers
  • relate findings to current national policies and debates on the changing role and influence of the student voice in institutions.
  • identify and disseminate good practice to the wider sector.
Project team

The project team has been led by Professor Gwen van der Velden, Academic Director, WIHEA, and comprised the following staff from the University of Bath:

  • Professor Rajani Naidoo, Senior Lecturer (Higher Education Management) and Deputy Director, Centre for Innovation, Marketing and Consumption, School of Management
  • Dr John Lowe, Lecturer, Department of Education
  • Dr Paulo Charles Pimental Botas, Research Officer, School of Management
  • Dr Alexander Pool, Education Officer (2012/13), Students' Union

    Selection of recent publications and invited presentations

    International

    Van der Velden, G.M. (2018). ‘Collective Teaching Enhancement’. Co-Constructing Excellence: Recognising, Scaffolding and Building Excellence in University Learning and Teaching. Hong Kong University 18-19 December 2018.

    Van der Velden G.M. (2016). 'UK policy levers to advance teaching quality.' International Conclave on Higher Education, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 18 October.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2016). 'Student Engagement in Learning and Teaching Quality Management'. Key note, Student Engagement Conference, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 5 September
    Van der Velden G.M. (2014). 'Developing a distinctive student experience through student engagement'. Keynote, REDU Association, Universitat Polytecnica de Catalunya, Zaragoza, Spain, 7 November.
    Anagnostopoulou K., Van der Velden G.M. (2014). 'Embedding MOOCs in Higher Education'. Invited seminar, University of Hyderabad, India, 17 July.
    Van der Velden G.M., Anagnostopoulou, K (2014) 'Open Educational Resources'. Workshop SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, India, 14-16 July.

    National
    Van der Velden G.M. (2017). 'Learning beyond Boundaries: Undergraduate Research Engagement'. Key note, Wrexham Glyndwr University, Wrexham, 6 June.
    Van der Velden G.M.(2017). Thoughts on TEF, NSS and other quality quantifying mechanisms. Presentation, Heads of Departments of Mathematics and Statistics, Annual Conference, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, 27 April.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2016). 'Student Engagement and HE Policy'. Seminar, St John’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, 12 May.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2016). 'What are Universities for?' HEA-HEPI Breakfast seminar, House of Commons, London, 26 January.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2016). ‘Institutional Engagement with Students by Alternative Providers of UK Higher Education’. Doctoral in Business Administration: Higher Education Management. DBA. University of Bath, Bath.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2015). Student Engagement. Seminar, Oxford Brookes Academic Enhancement, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, 17 March .
    Van der Velden G.M. (2015). Improving Student Satisfaction: Experiences from the University of Bath. Invited seminar, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, 9 February.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2014). Student Engagement in Learning and Teaching Quality. Enhancing Student Experience Conference, Universities UK, London, 4 December.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2014). Student Engagement in Learning and Teaching Quality Management. QAA Annual Conference, Royal Holloway University, London, 26 June
    Van der Velden G.M. (2014). Insights for Change: Student Surveys and Satisfaction Rates. Keynote, Association of Business Schools, 3rd annual conference, Aston Business School, Birmingham 23 April.
    Van der Velden (2014). Student Engagement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement: Institutional and Student Body Practices. Keynote, Westminster Higher Education Forum, London 16 January.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2013). Staff perceptions of student engagement. In: Dunne E. Owen D. ed. The student engagement handbook: practice in higher education. Bingley: Emerald, p 77-92.
    Van der Velden, G.M., Naidoo, R., Lowe, J.A., Pimentel Botas, P.C., Pool, A.D. (2013) Student Engagement in Quality Management Practices: A Study of UK Practices. Project report, commissioned by the Quality Assurance Agency, University of Bath, Bath.
    Van der Velden, G.M., Naidoo, R., Lowe, J.A., Pimentel Botas, P.C., Pool, A.D. (2013) Student Engagement in Quality Management Practices: A Good Practice Guide for institutions and students' unions, commissioned by the Quality Assurance Agency, University of Bath, Bath.
    Pimentel Botas, P.C, van der Velden, G.M., Lowe, J.A., Naidoo, R, Pool, A.D. (2013) Student Engagement in Quality Management Practices: Research Findings for institutions and students' unions, commissioned by the Quality Assurance Agency, University of Bath, Bath.
    Van der Velden G.M. (2013). The Student Voice, Keynote, Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, University of Leicester, Leicester, 10 June.
    Van der Velden, G.M. (2012). ‘Institutional level student engagement and organisational cultures.’ Higher Education Quarterly 66 (3).
    Van der Velden, G.M. (2012). ‘Talking about Quality: Student engagement’. Commissioned paper for QAA publication for the HE sector and wider public.
    Van der Velden, G.M. (2012). Students at the heart of Higher Education: A critical evaluation of student engagement. Keynote, RAISE conference, Southampton, 13 September.
    Van der Velden, G.M. (2012). The Student Voice. Invited seminar, University Learning and Teaching Board, Newcastle University, Newcastle, 18 October.
    Van der Velden, G.M. (2012). Institutional Change and the Student Experience. Invited talk, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Bristol, 22 October.
    Van der Velden, G.M. (2012). ‘Student at the Heart of Higher Education: A critical Evaluation of Student Engagement’. Invited keynote, RAISE conference. Southampton, 13 September.