The Higher Education Academy in the UK has awarded 24 University of Sydney staff with new fellowships, including five prestigious Principal Fellowships, in recognition of teaching excellence.
Principal Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (left to right): Professor Michelle Lincoln, Professor Pauline Ross, Professor Manju Sharma, and Professor David Lowe, with Professor Pip Pattison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).
The Higher Education Academy in the UK has awarded 24 University of Sydney staff with new fellowships, including five prestigious Principal Fellowships, in recognition of teaching excellence.
The fellowships demonstrate the commitment of these staff to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education, and are awarded in four categories: Principal, Senior, Fellow and Associate.
While the Higher Education Academy (HEA) is based in the UK and is commonly required in the UK education sector as a condition of appointment and promotion, increasing numbers of higher education institutions globally have adopted the scheme to recognise the practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning of staff working at all levels across universities.
The University’s Education Portfolio supported the applications of this round of fellowships as a pilot to learn more about the application process and success rates, and gain feedback from our staff on the process.
The 23 new fellows were celebrated at an event on 5 May, where they also had a chance to meet other Higher Education Academy fellows at the University of Sydney who had gained their fellowships previously at other universities.
“It is wonderful to see so many of our outstanding educators recognised in this way. We know they are great teachers, but fellowship provides an internationally recognised level of certification to that judgment,” said Professor Pip Pattison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).
The five Principal Fellows are Professor Rick Benitez, from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Michelle Lincoln, from the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor David Lowe, from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, Professor Pauline Ross, from the Faculty of Science, and Professor Manjula Sharma, from the Faculty of Science. Their fellowships credit a sustained record of effective strategic leadership in academic practice and academic development as a key contribution to high quality student learning.
“I am passionate about student learning, and its role in providing every student the opportunity to maximise their potential. Recognition from the HEA provides me with the motivation to continue to pursue innovation in student learning, and will hopefully also allow me to encourage others to think more deeply about their educational practices,” said Professor David Lowe.
“The HEA fellowships provide visibility to efforts to enhance the quality of our education, and helps ensure that those who deeply care about their students are encouraged and supported,” said Professor Lowe.
Professor Manju Sharma said, “Perhaps the most rewarding part of my work is supporting the next generation of university teachers in using active approaches and witnessing increasing numbers of students more engaged in their own learning.”
“Definitely the University of Sydney’s support of the HEA scheme clearly indicates that teaching is valued, and colleagues can strive to excel and gain international recognition of teaching,” said Professor Sharma.
Professor Rick Benitez said, “To be recognised in this way is a validation of the emphasis I have placed on teaching and learning across my whole career. I am honoured to receive this recognition.”
“The University supporting our staff to become HEA fellows will allow great teachers to contribute to higher education more effectively than ever before. Fellows will have a more direct role in promoting professional standards in teaching at our University and externally,” said Professor Benitez.
Professor Michelle Lincoln said, “I was thrilled to become of Principal Fellow of the HEA – external assessment and recognition of your achievements by your peers is pretty special.”
“The quality of the education we provide for our students is the highest priority of the University, so it follows that recognition of excellence in learning and teaching is very important. The HEA recognition pathway offers academics at all stages the opportunity to reflect on their learning and teaching approaches and achievements and submit an application for external assessment,” said Professor Lincoln.
Professor Adam Bridgeman, Director of Educational Innovation, whose team supported the applications for fellowship, congratulated the Higher Education Academy Fellows.
Principal Fellows of the Higher Education Academy:
- Professor Rick Benitez, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Professor Michelle Lincoln, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Professor David Lowe, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies
- Professor Pauline Ross, Faculty of Science
- Professor Manjula Sharma, Faculty of Science
Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy:
- Dr Amani Bell, Educational Innovation
- Professor Janette Bobis, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Giuseppe Carabetta, Business School
- Associate Professor Stefan Meisick, Business School
- Associate Professor Wendy Davis, School of Architecture, Design and Planning
- Dr Graham Hendry, Educational Innovation
- Dr Alison Kuiper, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Honorary)
- Associate Professor Mark McEntee, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Associate Professor Rebekah Moles, Faculty of Pharmacy
- Associate Professor Abelardo Pardo, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies
- Dr Tai Peseta, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Honorary)
- Dr Carolyn Stott, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Associate Fellows of the Higher Education Academy:
- Attila Balogh, Business School
- Evelyn Lai, Business School
- Antoni Lee, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Robyn Martin, Business School
- Megan Nash, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Alexander Page, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Dr Alice Williamson, Faculty of Science
Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, who have received fellowship through other institutions
In addition to celebrating those individuals who obtained fellowship through the university’s 2016 program, the University of Sydney also further recognises the ten individuals from across the University who have obtained fellowship through a previous institution. These individuals join our community of Educational Fellows at the University and are recognised below:
- Dr Jessica Frawley, Educational Innovation
- Associate Professor Jamie Glister, School of Law
- Dr Madeleine Pill, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Government and International Relations
- Associate Professor Ben Thornber, Faculty of Engineering & IT, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
- Professor Inam Haq, Sydney Medical School
- Professor Rico Merkert, The Sydney University Business School
- Dr Carl Schneider, Faculty of Pharmacy
- Professor Keith Trigwell, School of Education and Social Work (Honorary)
- Professor Jonathan Wooding, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Celtic Studies
- Dr Nial Wheate, Faculty of Pharmacy
The next round of Higher Education Academy fellows to be supported by the Education Portfolio through the application process are the participants in the First Year Coordinators Program.
