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York academics secure National Teaching Fellowship awards

Posted on 6 July 2009

Two University of York academics have been recognised for the outstanding quality of their teaching.

Ellen Roberts, of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy.

I hope that I can use the award to enhance the distinctive courses and the quality of student support that we provide

Ellen Roberts

Professor Mary Luckhurst, of the Department of Film, Theatre and Television, has won a £200,000 award for a National Teaching Fellowship Scheme project.

Ellen Roberts is responsible for York’s innovative e-learning Masters programmes for managers in public policy and management, which recruit from more than 40 countries, from all over the world. The programmes offer professional development leading to Certificate, Diploma and Masters awards.

She will use the £10,000 award for research into effective online distance learning.

“It is great to have this area of work recognised in this way, and I hope that I can use the award to enhance the distinctive courses and the quality of student support that we provide,” she said.

Ellen is one of only 50 lecturers and learning support staff from further and higher education institutions across England and Northern Ireland who have been have been awarded fellowships.

Professor Luckhurst will lead a three-year collaboration involving six institutions to introduce drama students to the contrasting teaching methods favoured by universities and conservatoires. The project centres on a programme of workshops led by experts teaching outside their home institutions and accustomed learning cultures. The aim is to give students a greater insight into performing both classical and modern play texts.

She said: ‘This project was one of only ten national awards and the only award in Drama. It positions the University of York and Theatre, Film and TV at the forefront of teaching and research. Our collaborators include RADA, Central School and MMU who will bring some of the country’s top drama technnicians to our university over the next three years. The project has generated enormous interest from the theatre industry, including the National Theatre.’

Professor Luckhurst spent ten years in theatre as a director, producer, literary manager and playwright, and has written and edited ten books. The award builds on a National Teaching Fellowship that she won three years ago.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) is part of an overall Academy programme to raise the status of learning and teaching in higher education. It has two strands: Individual National Teaching Fellowship Awards, and Projects. It is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DELNI).

ENDS