Role
Conor Naughton (SFHEA) is an educational developer within the Centre for Academic Development & Quality (CADQ). He works collaboratively with academic colleagues to explore and adopt innovative, inclusive and evidence-based learning and teaching practices, supporting excellent learning opportunities and outcomes for all students.
Conor specialises in student engagement and transition and leads the staff development offer at NTU on this topic. He is the educational development contact for the School of Science and Technology.
Career overview
Conor’s passion for equal and high-quality student experiences comes from his own time as a student entering University from a low socio-economic background having studied a BTEC at college. During his studies, Conor benefited first-hand from several programmes, opportunities and individuals that allowed him to reach his potential. Graduating from NTU in 2020 these experiences saw Conor develop a keen interest in how higher education and social mobility can help enhance the personal and professional prospects of students like himself.
Conor began his career in 2020 when he was elected and subsequently re-elected President of Nottingham Trent Students’ Union (NTSU). In this role, he managed a team of five elected officers and was the main representative voice of 40,000 students at high-level University committees and boards. Conor’s main focus during this time was ensuring a fair and equitable educational experience and delivering an outstanding student experience for all students.
During this time, Conor also served as chair of the board of trustees of NTSU and as a governor of NTU where he worked alongside trustees and governors to safeguard and enhance the values and strategic direction of both the Union and University.
Conor joined the Educational Development team within the Centre for Academic Development & Quality at NTU in June 2022.
Research areas
Conor has a keen research interest in student engagement, student belonging and student representation. He has undertaken several research projects on the above topics and plans to further explore these areas with an upcoming research publication investigating the topic of ‘why are students not attending in-person classes post-COVID-19? An exploration with course-level Student Academic Representatives’
External activity
Conor engages extensively with the higher education sector through his own research, conference presentations and engagement with leading sector bodies to develop, enhance and drive greater knowledge in student engagement and broader educational development. Conor’s engagement and passion for his work in higher education have earned him recognition, culminating in the award of Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority (SFHEA) making him one of the youngest ever individuals to receive this level of fellowship.
He is also a committee member of the researching, advancing and inspiring Student Engagement (RAISE) network the largest student engagement community in the world and is an external trustee at the University of Salford Students’ Union.
Publications
Publications
RAISE Student Belonging Good Practice Guide (2024). Edited by Conor Naughton, Clare Garden and Nicola Watchman Smith. Available here.
AdvanceHE Blog: The power of fellowship for student officers (2022). Author Conor Naughton. Available here.
Student partnerships in quality Scotland blog. Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Conor Naughton (2022). Author Conor Naughton. Available here.
Conference Presentations
JISC DigiFest – Panel member. Session title: Post-pandemic challenges to student engagement (2024).
QAA Student Quality Network – Panel member. Session title: Tackling impacts of the cost of living on teaching and learning, and wider student engagement and representation (2023).
RAISE Conference – Presenter. Session title: Bursaries, Beans and Bali? How the haves and have nots are impacting student belonging and how we can begin to change this (2023).
RAISE Conference – Panel member closing plenary. Session title: Student Belonging and How to achieve it (2023).
European First Year Experience (EFYE) Conference – Co-presenter. Workshop title: Engaging Students through collaboration and Building Community (2023).
European First Year Experience (EFYE) Conference – Presenter. Session title: The value of engaging with staff development to enhance student engagement, belonging and success (2023).
NTU’s Trent Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) Annual Learning and Teaching Conference – Presenter. Pecha kucha title: Relax! You can do it, alleviating student assessment anxiety (2023).
NTU’s Trent Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) Course Leader Conference – Presenter. Workshop title: The value of engaging with staff development to enhance induction and build greater student belonging (2023).
RAISE webinar – Chair. Session title: Whose view is it anyway? Ensuring representation structures in Students' Unions serve students successfully (2023).
AdvanceHE Student Engagement Conference – Chair. Panel session title: What does student engagement mean to you? (2023).