Dr Bhaven Patel, Dr Daniel Sykes and Dr Rhiannon Brooks’ innovations help students to achieve their true potential and have contributed to graduate outcomes.
Date: 3 June 2025
Three academics from London Metropolitan University’s Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences were recently shortlisted for two prestigious national teaching awards, recognising their transformative approach to inclusive, employability-focused education.
Dr Bhaven Patel, Dr Daniel Sykes and Dr Rhiannon Brooks were shortlisted for the AGCAS Academic Employability Award in the Curriculum Design for Employability category through a partnership with Noclor, the NHS Research Office, of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. They were also finalists for the LearnSci Teaching Innovation Awards, having previously won in 2021.
The entries focussed on their work redesigning second-year cross discipline modules using digital learning tools and student-centred practices.
“We’re always looking for ways to enhance the learning experience for our students,” said Dr Sykes. “We’re delighted to be recognised by these prestigious national awards, it’s a testament to the hard work of our team and the voices of our students that shape what we do.”
Transforming outcomes
In their judgement of the London Met Entry, the LearnSci award judges recognised the focus on tackling systemic barriers:
“Differential outcomes of minoritised groups are often perpetuated by systematic biases that are hard to isolate and change,” the judges noted. “This project however has shown clear progress towards a significant narrowing of the awarding gap which is fantastic!”
Their project used interactive digital tools called LearnSci Smart Worksheets and LabSims to make second-year chemistry topics, such as analytical, inorganic and physical chemistry, easier to understand and more engaging. Since making these changes, student marks have improved dramatically, rising from below 50 percent to over 75 percent on average. More than 90 percent of students are now passing these modules, and the gap in results between different student groups has significantly narrowed.
Innovations were driven by student feedback. These included introducing Smart Worksheets in the first year to reduce assessment anxiety, increasing time for digital exams, and refining assessment language. Students also received supplementary marks for showing written calculations.
Employability focus
To enhance employability, the team developed a spectroscopy-themed “chemistry escape room” and partnered with Noclor to offer CV support, application guidance and interview preparation, alongside ongoing work with colleagues Tiffany Platt, Vanessa Airth, Shauna Arnold and Alexandra Banks in the Graduate Success team. As a result, the BSc Chemistry graduate outcome score reached a three-year average of 89%.
Seventy percent of students in the department identify as being from ethnic minority backgrounds, and many are mature or international learners. The team’s efforts support London Met’s Education for Social Justice and Careers Education Frameworks, as well as its widening participation goals. Their work has also secured funding from the Royal Society of Chemistry to develop further digital tools for mature learners.
While the awards ultimately went to other nominees, the recognition affirms the department’s position as one of the most innovative of its kind in the country in evidence-based innovation and educational equity.
Pic: Dr Bhaven Patel and Dr Rhiannon Brooks at the LearnSci awards.