Meet the Warwick staff celebrating a triple win in national Teaching Excellence Awards
It'll come as no surprise to many of us that Warwick's teaching is excellent - but now Advance HE has confirmed it, by announcing our triple win in their Teaching Excellence Awards!
We spoke to the winners to learn more about the work that's secured them a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) and two National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) awards...
Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) winners: Warwick Postgraduate Teaching Community
Warwick Postgraduate Teaching Community (WPTC) is a cross-institutional community of practice: a professional learning space and source of support for postgraduate researchers who teach (PGRs), typically PhD students. The team aims to connect these early-career teachers, celebrating their unique contribution to higher education learning and teaching.
Tell us about your award-winning work...
Sara Hattersley (Academic Development Centre): "Postgraduate researchers who teach (usually Graduate Teaching Assistants) are often referred to as being in a 'liminal space': somewhere between staff, student, teacher and researcher. This is where we come in - we provide a point of connection, support and endorsement.
WPTC has two broad aims. Firstly, we seek to offer developmental opportunities, which lead to connection and collaboration, for a core team of PGRs from across the faculties. Secondly, we enable these colleagues to co-create research, resources and initiatives, and form partnerships that will give a voice to the wider postgraduate researcher (PGR) teaching community - at Warwick and beyond.
We've developed resources and opportunities for PGR teachers, including:
- editorship of the Journal of PGR Pedagogic Practice;
- creation of a resource and information bank;
- promotion of PGR-run workshops and networking opportunities;
- research into the state of the PGR teacher experience, which has informed institutional policy and practice.
How does it feel to be recognised with a CATE award?
Sara: "We are absolutely delighted to be recognised by Advance HE for our collaborative work. PGR teachers make a huge contribution to learning and teaching at Warwick, which deserves to be celebrated, and I feel privileged to work alongside such talented colleagues.
Thank you to all the PGRs who have made a contribution to WPTC over the last few years, and to the Academic Development Centre and Doctoral College for their continued support."
National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) award-winner: Professor Jane Bryan (Law)
Jane is a professor in Warwick’s School of Law. She’s devoted her career to creating a fairer and more inclusive higher education space – her focus is on empowering all students, particularly those from marginalised communities, to find their voice.
Tell us about your award-winning work...
Jane: "I’m passionate about bringing an understanding of mediation into the education of future lawyers, to help change how conflict and disagreement is addressed. In 2021, I created the ground-breaking and multi-award-winning peer mediation service at Warwick, to restore any fractured relationships among the staff and student body.
As a Foundation Fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA), I’ve long advocated for fairness in how teaching-focused staff are treated and provided opportunities – I co-lead a Promotion and Reward group which supports their career progression.
I also lead the national Posters in Parliament annual student research exhibition, and I co-organised the joint British and World Conference of Undergraduate Research in 2023, which brought together the largest gathering of student researchers outside of the US."
How does it feel to be honoured in the National Teaching Fellowships?
Jane: "I'm delighted to have been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. It would not have been possible without the support of colleagues from the Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA), the Academic Development Centre (ADC) and the Warwick Institute of Engagement (WIE), who have supported me over the years to innovate and develop my teaching and support for student learning.
For any colleagues who are passionate about teaching and developing their own practice, I would urge them to join WIHEA as members and to engage with ADC and WIE resources and opportunities."
National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) award-winner: Dr Isabel Fischer (WBS)
Isabel is an Associate Professor of Responsible Digital Innovation and Education at WBS. She spent more than 20 years working in technology innovation and digital transformation, and was a regular guest speaker at her local university before transitioning into academia full-time in 2015. Her teaching reflects this industry experience, bridging the gap between classroom learning and the 'real world'.
Tell us about your award-winning work...
Isabel: "I’m deeply committed to education as a tool for social change. By 2022, I'd developed an AI-based feedback tool to provide personalised feedback on students' assessment drafts, which enhances their academic writing skills and overall learning experience. This support levels the playing field for students who may not have a strong academic support network.
Unlike generative AI tools, mine focuses on improving students' own writing - not replacing it. It offers guidance on referencing, spelling, grammar, sentiment analysis, and visualisations such as dynamic knowledge graphs, which help students understand the interconnections of their work.
My doctoral research investigated students’ perceived obstacles to academic and employment success. Discovering that female students expressed an ongoing confidence gap, I became an advocate for inclusive education, creating an empowering classroom environment for all students.
I believe deeply in the transformative power of reflective practice, which led to the achievement of Advance HE Principal Fellowship. I'm a strong advocate for Fellowship, encouraging and mentoring fellow educators to develop their reflective practice.
How does it feel to be honoured in the National Teaching Fellowships?
Isabel: "It is fantastic to have my work recognised in such a way, especially as some of my projects, e.g. my work on AI in education, are to a certain degree controversial. Of course, this recognition could not have happened without our students’ engagement and the support of colleagues across Warwick. Thank you!"