Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching - Award Holders

Thank you to all who participated in the 2020/21 Awards.

We are excited to announce twelve recipients of this year’s Award, which includes three recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Outstanding Teaching Award: one for an Early Career Teacher, and two for an Established Teacher.

These Awards recognise and celebrate inspirational teaching at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), and the criteria against which an award is judged has emerged from consultation with the NTU community including students, staff and alumni. This means winning an award is a mark of recognition by the NTU community that awardees have demonstrated a level of distinction in teaching and learning.

Congratulations to you all!

Vice-Chancellor’s Outstanding Teacher Award for an Early Career Teacher

Dr Ian Whittaker

Senior Lecturer, School of Science and Technology

Ian was nominated for this award by colleagues who wrote enthusiastically about the impact he has made to the provision of online learning within Physics. Ian has developed a virtual laboratory and adapted a number of experiments to take place within a virtual environment.

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Vice-Chancellor’s Outstanding Teacher Award for an Established Teacher

Dr Sarah Broadberry

Principal Lecturer, School of Animal, Rural & Environmental Sciences

Sarah was nominated for this award by two colleagues who spoke in detail about her dedication to the improvement of learning and teaching. Sarah was an early adopter of team based and flipped learning methods and is keen to experiment with new teaching concepts and technologies.

Dr Gianluca Fantoni

Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Humanities

Gianluca was nominated for this award by colleagues who believe he deserves recognition for his infectious enthusiasm for and dedication to learning and teaching both inside and outside of the classroom. Gianluca provides exemplary pastoral and academic support to each student ensuring a learning environment where all students thrive.

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Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award 2021

Dr Lia Blaj-Ward
Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Humanities

Lia was nominated by colleagues who describe her as ‘the embodiment of the inspirational and collaborative teacher’. Lia has facilitated both collaborative learning experiences and bespoke individual sessions in which students have exceeded their own expectations of academic success and, in doing so, raised their aspirations for life beyond NTU.

Dr Mhairi Bowe
Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences

Mhairi was nominated by a group of three former students who were keen to tell us about how she manages to strike the right balance between challenge and support in teaching. They wrote enthusiastically of how Mhairi challenges students to engage and excel whilst also creating an inclusive and positive learning environment in which students feel able to take risks.

Dr Ali Bowes
Senior Lecturer, School of Science & Technology

Ali was nominated by colleagues who feel she deserves recognition for the impact she has had on learning and teaching since joining NTU in January 2019. Ali has actively fostered opportunities for blended learning, and for student empowerment and engagement resulting in exemplary feedback from students and colleagues alike.

Dr Stuart Burch
Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Humanities

Stuart was nominated by colleagues who describe an approach to teaching and learning which challenges students not only to learn ‘knowledge’ but to critically engage with ‘knowledge’ often changing the way that they think about themselves and the world around them.

Andy Grayson
Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences

Andy was nominated by a colleague and a former student who spoke in detail about his commitment to placing the student at the heart of learning and teaching. Andy has been instrumental in designing new approaches to assessment and feedback, creating a system that encourages lecturers to think of every piece of graded work as a valuable opportunity to coach and develop each student.

Jonny Greatrex
Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Humanities

Jonny was nominated by both a colleague and a former student who wrote of the positive impact he has had on students equipping them for professional life. Jonny has built on the model of practical ‘newsdays’ in the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, widening the scope of professional activities and learning opportunities for students.

Andrew Mackenzie
Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences

Andrew was nominated by colleagues because of his unique and engaging teaching style. The Panel also heard from two former students who noted that Andrew’s approach to teaching, supervision and support were fundamental in furthering their careers after graduation.

Kate Mills
Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Law School

Kate was nominated for this award by colleagues who told the Panel that she ‘embodies the concept of inspirational teaching’. They noted her scholarly approach blended with substantive knowledge and experience of industry means Kate expertly bridges the gap between theory and practice for students. What results are rich learning experiences and a lifelong love of the law.

Dr Samantha Ward
Principal Lecturer, School of Animal, Rural & Environmental Sciences

Samantha was nominated by a colleague and a former student who felt she deserved recognition for her student-centred approach, both inside and outside of the classroom. Samantha has been instrumental in encouraging the next generation of zoo professionals to be transformative within their industry.