Excellent Teaching in IBERS Recognised and Rewarded

The contributions that Dr Carl Cater, Lecturer in Tourism and Dr Hazel Davey, Lecturer in Biology make to teaching in IBERS have been recognised through the award of 2010/2011 Aberystwyth University Learning and Teaching Fellowships, which were conferred by the Vice Chancellor at this year’s graduation ceremonies in July.

The aims of the Fellowship scheme are to:

1.    Raise the profile of teaching or support for learning at the University;
2.    Recognise and reward individual excellence in teaching or support for learning;
3.    Recognise and celebrate individuals who make an outstanding impact on the student learning experience;
4.    Recognise the individual’s local and wider influence on the teaching, or learning support practice of others;
5.    Provide a route to the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS).

Aberystwyth University recognises teaching excellence through the award of approximately five individual awards of £1,200 each year to allow recipients to continue their professional development in teaching or supporting learning.
 
With regard to Dr Carl Cater’s application the panel thought: “[the] applicant demonstrate[d] a clear and decisive sense of his own teaching goals and a number of encouraging initiatives; the work on ethics and on student reflective journals, in particular”.

The awarding panel highlighted Dr Hazel Davey’s “self-reflection” and use of “initiatives and innovations that have improved student learning", recognising her as “an important team player”.

Professor Will Haresign, Director of Learning and Teaching within IBERS, said: “The Institute places great emphasis on teaching excellence, and these awards by the University are very competitive.  To receive one is very good indeed, but to receive two is a truly outstanding achievement.  It just goes to prove how dedicated our staff are in their pursuit of teaching excellence, and this is clearly reflected in the student learning experience, something that is evident from our excellent results in the National Student Satisfaction Survey over recent years”.