Two academics from The University of Warwick have been honoured in the 2024 National Teaching Fellowships, and one team have received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), announced today (8 August) by Advance HE.

Professor Lorenzo Frigerio, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Education at The University of Warwick, commented, "We are immensely proud of our colleagues' achievements. Winning these prestigious awards is a testament to their dedication, innovation, and exceptional contributions to enhancing student learning experiences. Their success underscores The University of Warwick's commitment to excellence in teaching and our continuous efforts to foster an enriching academic environment."

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education.

Dr. Isabel Fischer, The University of Warwick Business SchoolLink opens in a new window 

Isabel Fischer is an Associate Professor of Responsible Digital Innovation and Education at the University of Warwick Business School. Her teaching and research focus on the intersection of digital innovation, social inclusion, and pedagogy. Isabel spent over 20 years working in technology innovation and digital transformation at American Express and Visa, 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 real-world application to support engagement and employability. Her use of innovative assessment methods such as scholarly blogs allow students to publish their work on LinkedIn and enhance their professional online presence. Isabel also collaborates with the Warwick incubator as part of her interdisciplinary modules to embed entrepreneurship.

Dr Fischer said: “I am very honoured to win this prestigious award. I have worked hard to connect the theories students learn with real-world case studies that I write myself. My own quantitative research confirms that bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application boosts student motivation, learning, and increases academic achievement.”

Professor Jane Bryan, The University of Warwick Law DepartmentLink opens in a new window 

A Professor of Law and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Jane has devoted her career to creating a more just and inclusive higher education, empowering all students, particularly those from marginalised communities, to find their voice and use this to drive change in HE and beyond.  

Jane qualified as a solicitor in 1995, joining Warwick Law School in 2009. Jane’s belief in the transformative strength of dialogue to redress power imbalances, connect and develop others, and build and repair community bonds has driven her far beyond her formal roles. Jane has been a champion and change-maker for student voice, peer-dialogue on teaching, and dialogue-based conflict resolution institutionally, nationally, and internationally.  

Professor Andrew Williams, Head of the The University of Warwick Law Department, said “The Law School is extremely proud of Jane and her award. It reflects years of dedication and extraordinary innovation in her teaching and is certainly well-deserved."

The recognition of Professor Jane Bryan and Dr. Isabel Fischer, along with the Warwick Postgraduate Teaching Community, underscores The University of Warwick's commitment to educational excellence and innovation.

The 2024 awards ceremony will take place in Edinburgh on 3 October.

CATE Award: Warwick Postgraduate Teaching CommunityLink opens in a new window 

The Advance HE Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence (CATE) celebrate collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning.

Warwick Postgraduate Teaching Community (WPTC) was established in 2021. As early career colleagues, postgraduate researchers who teach (often called Graduate Teaching Assistants) have responsibilities such as lab demonstration, seminar leadership and marking. They are often called somewhere between staff, student, teacher and researcher, where WPTC provides a point of connection, support and endorsement.

The team has two broad aims. Firstly, it seeks to offer developmental opportunities to an evolving core of PGR teachers from across the University, enabling connection and collaboration, incubation of ideas and an opportunity to lead, share and learn. Secondly, the team enables these colleagues to co-create research, resources and initiatives, and form partnerships which will benefit and give voice to the wider PGR teacher community, at Warwick and beyond.