The University is committed to delivering education to the highest standard. A focus is placed on supporting academic staff to become Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.
Date: 2 February 2018
London Metropolitan University is committed to delivering the best quality education to its students. To achieve this goal, the University encourages academic staff to become a Fellow or Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
To demonstrate the University’s commitment to this goal, it is outlined in the 2015-20 Strategic Plan that London Met aims “for 100% of [its] academic staffing establishment to have, or be working towards, an HEA Fellowship or other qualification.”
As of January 2018, there are 185 Fellows of the HEA and 26 Senior Fellows of the HEA teaching at London Met. Overall, 51% of our teachers hold a category of HEA fellowship. For UK universities in general, the average is 39% of teaching staff.
Dr Ahmad Nazari, the Teaching Languages (English) MA course leader, is the latest staff member to be given this prestigious title.
“Being named as a Senior Fellow has helped me to reflect more deeply on my teaching, leadership, management and support activities and practices,” he said.
“This reflection has made me further ensure that my teaching approaches address individual differences and different learning needs of students from various cultural and educational backgrounds. Moreover, I am now more committed to promoting participation in Higher Education and equality of opportunity for learners and academics.”
Dr Nazari joins eight other current or recent members of staff who have become a Senior Fellow during the 2016-17 academic year.
Catherine Schumann, Course leader and Senior Lecturer in Practice Education, has also been named as a Senior Fellow. She said: “Being appointed as a Senior Fellow provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate and evidence my teaching abilities, it has increased my confidence with regards to the subjects I deliver and supported further reflections on my strengths and areas for further development.”
Dr Tony Novak, senior lecturer in Social Work BSc, who has also been appointed as a Senior Fellow in the past academic year, said: “Obtaining Senior Fellow status was made possible by the support and encouragement I received from our Centre for Professional and Educational Development.
“Their guidance made the experience an enjoyable one. I would strongly encourage colleagues to apply for either Fellow or Senior Fellow membership.”
Professor Bal Virdee, Professor of Microwave Technology, said: “I am delighted to have received recognition from the Higher Education Academy for my educational experience. Working through my application has crystallized my teaching practice and student engagement philosophies; I can now say with conviction that these revolve around encouragement, problem-based learning, and inclusivity. It has also enabled me to critically review my recent roles in Higher Education.”
The HEA is an independent non-profit organisation committed to world-class teaching in higher education. They work in partnership with institutions and individuals in higher education who support student success.
In addition, 75% of current teaching staff at London Met have a teaching qualification and/or HEA fellowship.
A full list of London Met academics who were made Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy in 2016-17:
- Ektoras Arkomani; senior lecturer in Architectural History and Theory MA
- Sandra Denicke-Polcher; Deputy Head of the School of Architecture
- Andrew Linton, course leader for Social Work BSc
- Dr Brian McDonough, course leader for Sociology BSc
- Dr Ahmad Nazari, course leader for Teaching Languages (English) MA
- Dr Anthony Novak, senior lecturer for Social Work BSc
- Catherine Schumann, course leader for Practice Education (Stages 1 and 2) (short course)
- Prof Bal Virdee, Professor of Microwave Technology
- Lucy Richardson, former lecturer in Theatre and Performance Practice BA
