Warwick celebrates another triple win in Advance HE Teaching Excellence Awards 2025
Two academics from the University of Warwick have been honoured in the 2025 National Teaching Fellowships, and one team have received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), announced today (7 August) by Advance HE.
The prestigious Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) has been awarded to We are Chemistry (WaC) – a pioneering student-staff partnership in the Department of Chemistry that has transformed engagement through collaboration.
Meanwhile, Dr Freeha Azmat, Reader in Engineering Education at WMG and Dr Jennie Mills, Associate Professor in Warwick’s Academic Development Centre, have been recognised with National Teaching Fellowships for their transformative contributions to higher education.
We are Chemistry
We are Chemistry (WaC) is a student-staff partnership in Warwick's Department of Chemistry that puts collaboration at the heart of everything they do. Established in 2022, the team empowers students as genuine partners in educational transformation, creating lasting change that extends far beyond the department.
Led by Dr Tom Ritchie and Adam Alcock in the Department of Chemistry, the partnership has delivered a range of high-impact outcomes: from co-designed curriculum modules and peer-support networks, to the founding of the Warwick Black Chemistry Society. The initiative has already made a measurable difference—improving lab skills, boosting extra-curricular participation, and narrowing the awarding gap for Black students.
“What makes WaC special is that it's genuinely student-led. We learned early on that traditional engagement models weren't working - students felt disconnected and many were struggling to belong. So, we flipped the approach entirely.” said Dr Tom Ritchie. “What's really exciting is how this has grown. The collaborative principles we developed with our Student Interns became the foundation for Warwick's Building Belonging Framework, which now shapes strategy across the entire university and beyond.”
“This award means everything to our Student Interns they’re the ones driving this work.” added Adam Alcock. “When students see that their leadership and innovation is being celebrated at this level, it validates what we've always believed: that genuine partnership transforms education.”
Dr Freeha Azmat
Dr Freeha Azmat, Reader in Engineering Education at WMG, has been named a National Teaching Fellow for her outstanding leadership in engineering education, inclusion, and curriculum design.
She has consistently challenged systemic barriers, rising from a Merit Scholar in Pakistan’s male-dominated engineering field to a Chancellor’s International Scholar at University of Warwick.
With over 15 years’ experience, Dr Azmat pioneered the integration of authentic learning into the engineering curricula, developing industry-aligned programmes such as the BSc Digital and Technology Solutions Degree ApprenticeshipLink opens in a new window and MSc in Digital and Technology Solutions Degree ApprenticeshipLink opens in a new window at WMG, of which she is Course Director.
These DAs help train over 250 students every year and are designed in collaboration with major employers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Dyson, and Goldman Sachs, to help reduce the UK’s engineering and technology skills gap.
Her impact spans curriculum design, policy influence, and strategic leadership. She has led over £400K in externally funded projects, embedding work-based learning and digital pedagogies into institutional frameworks. As a recognised thought leader, she has shared her expertise through keynotes across UK universities and contributions to national policy via Policy Connect.
Internationally, she has directed major capacity-building projects in Pakistan, South Africa, Colombia, and the UAE, promoting authentic learning and enhancing access for underserved communities. Her mentoring has empowered colleagues across global institutions, and she has led cross-functional teams to secure prestigious accreditations, raise academic standards, and enhance digital infrastructure.
As a mentor and EDI advocate, she champions initiatives such as the Improving access and participation to engineering research (IAPER) internship programme and the Youth Support Programme (YSP), creating vital pathways for women and underrepresented students in STEM. Her work has been recognised through awards including the WMG Star Award, Warwick Enhanced Contribution Awards, Asian Woman of Achievement Award and selection to high-level institutional leadership programmes.
Dr Azmat said, “For me, receiving an award is not just about recognising past achievements, it is about affirming the purpose that drives my work. It honours the journey, the barriers I have overcome, and the communities I strive to uplift. Most importantly, it motivates me to keep pushing boundaries so others can rise too."
Dr Jennie Mills
Dr Jennie Mills, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Warwick’s Academic Development Centre, has also been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for her groundbreaking work on reflective practice, pedagogic innovation, and AI in education.
Her teaching and research focus on transforming higher education through innovative pedagogies that challenge conventional academic practice. Jennie has a background in English Literature and critical theory, which she applies to create new methodologies for educational development. Her work centres on "constructive disruption" – using creative approaches including LEGO SERIOUS PLAY®, arts-based methods, and storytelling to help educators reimagine their practice.
She established the Academic and Professional Pathway for Teaching Excellence (APPTE), which has supported over 380 colleagues to gain Fellowship since 2016 through its distinctive approach to reflective practice and professional development.
She is a pioneer in AI-enhanced education, co-developing 'The AI Revolution' module – Warwick's first to integrate AI as a pedagogical partner. She leads institutional AI development through staff bootcamps and knowledge-sharing events, positioning Warwick at the forefront of ethical AI integration in higher education.
Dr Mills said: "This recognition celebrates an approach to education that values both rigour and imagination. I'm passionate about creating spaces where educators can question assumptions, take creative risks, and discover new possibilities.
“What I'm most proud of is fostering communities where we explore better questions together - whether using LEGO to envision AI futures or poetry to reflect on teaching practice, the goal is always to suspend conventional thinking just long enough for curiosity and transformation to take hold."
About the University of Warwick
Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.