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Chris Hughes becomes a Principal Fellow of the HEA

Congratulations to Chris Hughes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), who has gained recognition as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) through the Warwick Academic and Professional Pathway for Experienced Staff.

Chris said:

Chris HughesI was really delighted and honoured to receive the status of Principal Fellow of the HEA. Gaining HEA recognition for staff at all career paths and levels across Warwick is an important signifier of our institutional commitment to enhancement of teaching and learning, and most importantly a crucial means to reflect upon and improve our teaching practices and appreciate ongoing trends and innovation in education.

I found the task of preparing for Principal Fellow status challenged me to rethink many of my assumptions and move to a higher appreciation of teaching practice and educational leadership. The support I received from the LDC and other colleagues was great and indispensable to the learning process and award.

I would encourage all colleagues to consider at some point applying for HEA status."

Principal Fellowships are awarded to highly experienced and/or senior staff with wide-ranging academic or academic-related strategic leadership responsibilities in connection with key aspects of teaching and supporting learning. They have responsibility for institutional strategic leadership and policymaking in the area of teaching and learning. They are also able to demonstrate strategic impact and influence in relation to teaching and learning that extended beyond their own institution.

Warwick colleagues

Over the past five years the number of Warwick staff recognised as HEA Fellows has grown from 8.8% to 35.6%, placing us for the first time above the Russell Group average (30%) for the number of fellowships awarded within the year. This is evidence of our growing commitment to continuously developing teaching excellence, and a testament to the dedication of mentors and assessors who have been working closely with the Learning and Development Centre to achieve this result.

Chris joins seven others at Warwick who have become Principal Fellows of the HEA:

  • Robin Clark - Professor of Practice, WMG
  • Richard Cure - Head of Dentistry Studies, WMS
  • Will Curtis - Director of Undergraduate Programmes, Academic Office
  • Geraldine Hartshorne - Professorial Teaching Fellow, WMS
  • Colin Macdougall - Head of Medical Education, WMS
  • Sarah Richardson - Associate Professor, History
  • Gwen Van der Velden - Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning Experience)

Congratulations to these colleagues and all others who have gained HEA recognition on their achievement.

Find out more about Academic and Professional Pathways to HEA fellowship.

Academic and Professional Pathways to HEA fellowship

Becoming a Fellow of the HEA provides formal professional recognition of your expertise in teaching and learning in HE. Whether you are just setting out or leading learning and teaching at strategic level, Warwick offers a pathway to Fellowship.

There are four categories of Fellowship available to staff dependent upon role and career stage:

  • Associate Fellowship
  • Fellowship
  • Senior Fellowship
  • Principal Fellowship

Continuous Development of Teaching Excellence

Take a look at our Education Strategy to see other ways in which we plan to continuously enhance teaching and learning at Warwick, in partnership with students and staff.