Manchester academics awarded National Teaching Fellows 2022
04 Aug 2022
Two University of Manchester academics have been named 2022 National Teaching Fellows by Advance HE for their outstanding contributions to teaching
Professor Hannah Cobb and Dr Adam Danquah are among 54 new National Teaching Fellows (NTFs) named at institutions across the country. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme celebrates and recognises individuals who have made a tremendous impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education. The 2022 awards ceremony will take place on 29 September in Liverpool.
Hannah is a Professor of Archaeology and Pedagogy in the Faculty of Humanities. Through her teaching, research, and leadership, she is a passionate advocate for inclusivity, equality and diversity in contemporary archaeological practice and higher education.
She has also published extensively on teaching and learning in archaeology and her pedagogic approach. The Ardnamurchan Transitions Project which Hannah founded in 2006 has provided high-quality fieldwork experiences for many students whose backgrounds, disabilities or mental health challenges would have represented significant barriers for their participation in such work.
Hannah said: "I am passionate both about my own teaching and learning and about supporting the teaching development of others, at the University of Manchester and within my field of archaeology, and I feel so honoured that this passion has been recognised with the award of a National Teaching Fellowship. Right now I am running my archaeological field school on the muddy, windy, slightly soggy west coast of Scotland. My work on this project has been at the heart of my pedagogic research and it feels fitting to receive the award whilst in a place where I have been so inspired and surrounded by a team of such inspirational students too!"
Adam is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and Academic Director for the Doctoral Training Programme in Clinical Psychology (ClinPsyD), in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. He also co-leads his Faculty’s staff development programme, is Associate Dean for Inclusive Education and leads the ground-breaking Higher Education Anti-Racism Training programme (HEART). His work also reaches beyond the University as he was recently appointed to the Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel to advise the Mayor of Greater Manchester and other public sector bodies.
Adam said: “Recognition of my teaching at national level is just astounding. Given the level of competition I worked hard to manage my expectations, so the news is still sinking in. What is clear to me is that I’ve been supported to excel by fantastic colleagues and students. I’m still working out exactly what this award will mean, but I hope it contributes to wider recognition of the range and depth of excellent teaching at our institution and inspires others to share their work.
"My teaching practice is founded on psychological approaches I honed during clinical psychology and psychotherapy trainings and clinical practice. Joining the Association of NTFs is an exciting opportunity to refine and extend this work in dialogue with leaders in the field of teaching.”
Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, Professor April McMahon, said: “First and foremost I’d like to congratulate Adam and Hannah on their well-deserved award and the recognition it brings. Gaining a National Teaching Fellowship is a huge achievement and demonstrates their dedication to teaching, and to our colleagues and students.
“I’d also like to thank them for their overall outstanding contribution to the teaching and learning provision at our University. Adam and Hannah have now each taken up leadership roles at Manchester and are driving forward even more positive change.”
Professor Judy Williams, Associate Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, added: “Adam and Hannah are doing amazing work to enhance the student experience that is thought provoking, diverse and of the highest quality. I am delighted that they have gained their fellowships, and not surprised as they are richly deserved.
“They join our network of national teaching fellows and principal fellows who are driving forward excellence across the university and demonstrate our staff’s teaching excellence.”
“We have an NTF pipeline programme in place at the University and I encourage other colleagues who are interested in applying to get in touch and we will provide full support.”
Alison Johns, Chief Executive, Advance HE said: “Congratulations to each and every new National Teaching Fellow and CATE team on this fantastic achievement.
“At Advance HE, we run the prestigious NTF and CATE awards for the UK higher education sector with enormous pride. The challenges of offering an outstanding teaching experience in recent years have been very demanding, but the sector has risen to the challenge.”
More information: