Dr Danielle D'Hayer and Neelam Thapar receive prestigious award from AdvanceHE for exceptional contributions to higher education.
Date: 4 August 2023
Two members of London Met staff have received national recognition for their contributions to learning, teaching and student outcomes.
Dr Danielle D’Hayer, Course Leader for Interpreting MA, and Conference Interpreting MA, and Neelam Thapar, Head of Careers and Employability at London Met, have been awarded prestigious National Teaching Fellowships (NTFs) by AdvanceHE.
The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education. The competitive scheme awards up to 55 National Teaching Fellowships each year, nationally. It celebrates and rewards outstanding individual impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.
Commenting on their awards, Professor Julie Hall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at London Metropolitan University said:
"It fills me with immense pride to see Danielle and Neelam receiving such a prestigious accolade. The acknowledgement from AdvanceHE is a reflection of their innovative methodologies and the transformative influence they've had on student outcomes. They are a shining symbol of the thriving academic professional community at London Met."
Internationally recognised innovation.
Internationally celebrated, Dr Danielle D’Hayer is an Associate Teaching Professor in Interpreting Studies within London Met’s Guildhall School of Business and Law. She has set benchmarks in promoting multilingualism as a vital communication tool. Having overcome significant educational barriers herself, she has been pivotal in creating inclusive educational communities. Renowned for her unique approach to hybrid experiential learning pedagogy, she has leveraged technology and community-driven models to foster an egalitarian educational environment. Her trailblazing work, especially in hybrid technology, has been adopted as a global model since 2019.
Over the course of 32 years, Neelam Thapar has transformed careers education through her strategic and inclusive leadership. Her deeply rooted commitment to social justice, influenced by her own lived experiences, has been instrumental in moulding London Met’s Education for Social Justice framework. She successfully established a comprehensive Careers Education Framework, incorporating scaffolded curricular and co-curricular learning with embedding of timely careers education, information, advice and guidance. Furthermore, her dedication to diversity, equity, and student partnership has made significant changes to pedagogic practices, benefiting a broad spectrum of students.
Alison Johns, Chief Executive of AdvanceHE, commented:
"Our warm congratulations go out to all the new National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams. This award shines a light on their unwavering commitment to teaching, learning, and their monumental role in driving student success. We eagerly anticipate our collaboration with the new NTFs and CATE awardees, ensuring their excellent practices resonate throughout the higher education sector."
Neelam and Danielle are the sixth and seventh members of staff to receive this prestigious awards, following on from James Elander & Gulielmo Volpe (2004), Cecile Tschirhart (2006), Steven Curtis (2011), and Sandra Denicke (2018).
