Role
Brendan Coulson BSc (Hons) PGCE QTLS MALTE ATS CTeach FSET PFHEA
Leading the development of higher technical skills based courses, advising on technical educational policy, and skills pedagogy.
Career overview
Having trained in Nottingham as a Computing lecturer, Brendan spent 11 years teaching in Further Education before joining NTU in 2019.
During this time, he was nominated by his students for two national teaching awards and won the JISC Award for the use of technology to support learning in 2011. He held a wide variety of managerial roles including managing a large pre16 provision; leading apprenticeships and managing curriculum. He was given the pleasure of being invited to the Houses of Parliament on two separate occasions, one to discuss how he successfully developed a KS4 programme that pre16 home schooled learners could access; and for his work with Boots Plc in developing a successful training partnership.
He has also held Senior Management positions at two Further Education Colleges, culminating in being a Director for Learning, Marketing and Business Engagement.
He has served as a staff governor for a large Further Education provider in Nottingham.
Brendan currently is a Trustee at Raleigh Learning Trust
Research areas:
Brendan’s interests focus on higher technical skills, apprenticeships, and pedagogical practice within post compulsory education.
Press expertise:
Brendan can offer comment on: Further Education; Higher Technical Qualification; Higher National Awards; Apprenticeships; Adult Learning and Work-based Learning.
Publications:
Coulson, B. 2021. The Skills for Jobs white paper: A chance to provide ‘flexibility’. [Blog] Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/the-skills-for-jobs-white-paper-a-chance-to-provide-flexibility
Coulson, B. 2021. The Purpose of Education. [Blog] Available at: https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2021/07/23/the-purpose-of-education/
Coulson, B. 2022. What does the Higher Technical Kitemark really mean? [Blog] Available at: https://wonkhe.com/blogs/what-does-the-higher-technical-kitemark-really-mean/
Cole, D. and Coulson, B., 2022. Through and Beyond COVID-19, Promoting Whole Person, Lifelong and Lifewide Learning. Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education, 4(1), pp.45-50. Humber Press. Available at: https://jipe.ca/index.php/jipe/issue/view/5/6