Two staff members nationally recognised for their excellence in teaching and learning

Two staff members have been nationally recognised for their outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education.

Dr Jane Creaton and Amy Barlow have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships by Advance HE for a range of initiatives relating to doctoral education and championing staff-student partnerships. 

Around 50 Higher Education professionals across the country are awarded National Teaching Fellowships annually. Two other members of staff currently at the University have received the Fellowship in previous years. 

Dr Harriet Dunbar-Morris, Dean of Learning and Teaching, said: “I am delighted that Jane and Amy have been recognised by the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme which celebrates and recognises individuals for their impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education. Between them they epitomise how the student experience is so central at Portsmouth, and it is really wonderful that two members of our staff have been recognised this year.” 

Jane Creaton, Associate Dean (Academic) and Reader in Higher Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences 

Jane has been recognised for her expertise in doctoral education, particularly professional doctorates and the mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate research students (PGRs).

She has designed, developed and delivered highly successful professional doctorate programmes in criminal justice and education and also teaches on institution-wide development programmes for postgraduate research students and their supervisors. Jane is leading an Office for Students funded project on the health and wellbeing of postgraduate research students, and as Postgraduate Research Wellbeing Champion, she is implementing a new institutional strategy promoting the mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate researchers.

Jane co-organised the First International Conference on Postgraduate Mental Health and Wellbeing in Brighton in May 2019 and is a member of the Vitae Concordat Writing Group which is drafting the revised UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education, an Associate of the Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research at the University of Sussex, and a trustee and member of the Governing Council of the Society for Research in Higher Education.

Jane said: “Working with doctoral researchers and supervisors is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of my job, so I’m delighted to receive this prestigious award in recognition of my national impact in this area. My current project on the mental health and wellbeing of doctoral researchers is nearly complete and I’m looking forward to working across the institution to enhance the experience of all those who are working towards their doctorates.”

Amy Barlow, Head of Academic Development, Department for Curriculum and Quality Enhancement (DCQE)

Amy has been recognised for championing staff-student partnership, active learning, and meaningful assessment. Her work in student engagement has led to staff-student partnership work which empowers students as change leaders, locally and nationally. She was part of a small group of staff and students at Portsmouth who developed a new Assessment for Learning Policy and championed a data-driven, student-focused, programme-level approach to assessment. 

Amy is a creative and innovative teacher and has been fortunate to pioneer staff-student partnership initiatives that have transformed policy and driven the evolution of her institutions. She works hard to create opportunities for students to have substantial influence on all aspects of their education. Amy is being recognised for her work and pedagogical expertise in technology enhanced learning, assessment and feedback, and student engagement at Portsmouth and her previous institutions. 

Amy said: “I’m thrilled to have been awarded the National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of the outstanding teaching that happens at our University. It’s wonderful to see teaching in the spotlight. I think the greatest benefit of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme is that it connects educators from different places with similar interests and I’m looking forward to joining that community.”