Sue Burkill (left), Head of Education Enhancement, and Professor Alison Wride (right) from the Business School, awarded National Teaching Fellowships.

Exeter staff win national award

Two senior staff from the University of Exeter have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships.

Sue Burkill, Head of Education Enhancement, and Professor Alison Wride, Deputy Director of the Business School were amongst 50 award winners nationally.

Sue, whose career has spanned 25 years as a geography teacher before joining higher education, is increasingly involved in national education enhancement initiatives. Commenting on the award she said ‘Supporting the personal and professional development of staff and students – particularly those who needed extra help - and then seeing them succeed has been the most satisfying and challenging aspect of my career.’

Professor Wride is an economist, whose teaching encompasses all levels. She currently lectures to several hundred first year undergraduates in the Business School and is also working closely with HM Treasury and other government bodies, to increase the level of economic skills across the public sector.

On hearing the news of the award she said ‘I have always focused on making economics accessible and relevant and I try to convey just how exciting a subject it is. I was delighted to hear about the Fellowship, which has been given in recognition of both my teaching and my broader impact on the student experience.’

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) is part of an overall Academy programme to raise the status of learning and teaching in higher education.

The individual strand of the scheme aims to raise the profile of learning and teaching, recognise and celebrate individuals who make an outstanding impact on the student learning experience, and provide a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes.

Date: 25 June 2009