About the Teaching Excellence team
The Teaching Excellence team supports and delivers the activity of the Institute of Teaching and Learning (ITL), which was created in 2019 to support teaching quality, embed innovative teaching methods and lead on university-wide strategic projects. We are committed to fostering and celebrating a culture of teaching excellence.
Through effective and collegial partnership we enable ongoing professional development in teaching and learning, supported and tailored to meet colleagues' needs. You can contact the Teaching Excellence team if you have any queries around programmes or events, or if you would like to discuss the development opportunities and support available to you.
Teaching Excellence forms part of the Teaching and Learning Delivery team within within the Division of Student and Academic Services (SAS), and is part of the Directorate for the Student Experience (DSE).
Lisa McDonagh SFHEA, Teaching and Learning Manager (Teaching Excellence)
Lisa joined the University when the Institute of Teaching and Learning was created in October 2019, having worked in academic skills teaching and academic development in other institutions supporting students and staff across a range of disciplines. These roles included a particular focus on widening participation and supporting transition to HE. She also has a background in student support and in careers guidance.
Lisa is a Senior Fellow of the HEA, a Certified Practitioner in Learning Development (ALDinHE) and holds Postgraduate Certificates in Higher and Professional Education and in Careers Guidance.
Emma Sanders SFHEA, Teaching and Learning Officer (Teaching Excellence)
An interest in quality assurance and teaching policy led Emma to the Faculty of Humanities’ Teaching and Learning Office (2005 - 2017), where she worked on a variety of teaching and learning-related projects as well as taught programme development, approval and review. Between 2017 and 2019 Emma managed the University’s Differential Attainment Project, and subsequently supported the Contract Cheating Task and Finish Group. She is the ITL lead Teaching Excellence Awards, and supports the Senior Advisors Network and several Institute Fellows.
Emma is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and she holds PGCEs in Professional Practice (AUA/The Open University) and Higher Education (The University of Manchester), as well as a Trinity College Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
Holly Dewsnip SFHEA, Teaching and Learning Officer (Teaching Excellence)
Holly began working at the University in August 2013 after completing her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Holly has extensive experience coordinating academic development initiatives and has supported the University's Advance HE fellowship programmes in various roles since 2015. Since joining the Institute of Teaching and Learning in March 2020, Holly has worked on several teaching and learning related projects as well as leading the University's recent bid for Advance HE accreditation in 2024.
Holly is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA), and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (The University of Manchester).
Cara Banerji-Parker, Teaching and Learning Officer (Projects)
Cara joined the Teaching Excellence team in May 2024, following her role as a Learning and Assessment Developer at University College of Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL). She has a background in teaching, having worked in both the School of Law and UCIL, as well as experience as a research analyst.
Cara’s main role is to coordinate the University’s strategic teaching and learning projects relating to assessment and the University’s preparations for the next Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) exercise. Ongoing projects include the implementation of assessment tool Cadmus, the creation of resources to support colleagues to conduct effective group work, and the definition and measurement of educational gains.
Beth Rotherham SFHEA, TLSE Coordinator
Beth graduated from the University of Manchester with an MChem Chemistry (Hons) in 2020. During her degree she was a PASS Leader and Student Coordinator for the Chemistry PASS Scheme (2017-2020), during this time she achieved her Associate Fellowship of the HEA.
In 2020 she joined the Peer Support Team as a Student Engagement Graduate Officer where she helped support the running of PASS and Peer Mentoring Schemes across the university. All her experiences of being both a student and staff within Peer Support showed her the benefits of working in partnership with students for all those involved.
Beth now coordinates the University of Manchester Advance HE Fellowship Scheme, supporting colleagues who teach and support learning to evidence their practice and achieve Advance HE fellowship.
Freya Corrywright FHEA, TLSE Administrator
Freya was a project assistant on the Differential Attainment Project from 2018-2019, an extremely positive experience which led to her re-joining the University of Manchester via the Institute of Teaching and Learning, in 2022. Her interest in improving pedagogy through egalitarianism and widening participation was developed during the Differential Attainment project, and continues to drive her work to this day.
In 2017 she had completed an Undergraduate and Masters degree at the University of Manchester, in History and Classics and Ancient History respectively. The experience developed a deep interest in academia, teaching, and learning, that helps to inform her activities with ITL.
Monique Sung AFHEA, TLSE Administrator (Projects)
Monique graduated from the University of Manchester in 2022 with a BSc in Psychology. During an internship as a Teaching Excellence Framework intern and a role in the Student Finance Team, Monique became interested in project-based work, with particular intrigue in themes around equality, diversity and inclusion, and assessment and feedback. Monique supports the administration and co-ordination of teaching and learning projects including Teaching Excellence Framework, Cadmus, and Assessment for the Future, and is motivated and committed to incorporating student voice into this work.
Esme Davies FHEA, Higher Education Intern
Esme graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA in Linguistics in 2022. Soon after, she joined the University as a graduate intern working on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) submission. During her degree, she was a PASS leader and a Dual-delivery Facilitator. These experiences showed Esme some of the many aspects of higher education, and developed her interest in making teaching and learning more accessible, particularly through the use of technology.
Stephen Urwin FHEA, Higher Education Intern
With a background in Film Production and a Masters by Research in Visual-Sampling, Stephen aims to blend creative flair with academic rigor. As a dynamic contributor to University Recruitment, Marketing, and academic support, Stephen is passionate about fostering cross-disciplinary approaches for fresh insights. From energizing blogs and spearheading new academic programs to collaborating on ITL Fellows, Stephen focuses on cultivating an environment where diverse disciplines converge, generating innovative frameworks and transformative learning experiences.
Academic leadership
The Teaching Excellence team works closely with the University's Theme Leads in Teaching, Learning and Students to support the delivery of ITL and Teaching Excellence activity.
- Prof Hannah Cobb NTF PFHEA, University Theme Lead for Academic Development
- Jennie Blake NTF CATE PFHEA, University Theme Lead for Student Success
- Prof Jen O'Brien NTF PFHEA, University Theme Lead for Sustainability (Teaching and Learning)
- Dr Jen McBride SFHEA, University Theme Lead for Teaching Excellence and Quality
- Dr James Brooks PFHEA, University Theme Lead for Teaching Excellence and Quality
The Teaching Excellence team also works with the Flexible Learning Team.
ITL Fellows
The Teaching Excellence team collaborates with colleagues from across the University and the sector to support the delivery of teaching and learning projects and initiatives. Colleagues affiliated with the Teaching Excellence team and who support the delivery of Institute of Teaching and Learning activity become ITL Fellows.
- ITL Fellows - ITL Fellows are colleagues who are working on or leading active projects delivered, or supported, by the Teaching Excellence team.
- Honorary ITL Fellows - Honorary ITL Fellows are colleagues who have worked on, or led, projects delivered or supported by the Teaching Excellence team which have now concluded, or who have been recognised by the ITL for their teaching excellence via a University Teaching Excellence award or commendation.
- Strategic ITL Fellows - Strategic ITL Fellows are colleagues who are working on, or leading, active teaching and learning related strategic projects. Strategic ITL Fellows work in close collaboration with the Teaching Excellence team but these projects are not directly delivered or supported by the ITL.
- Visiting ITL Fellows - Visiting ITL Fellows are colleagues external to the University who work with the Teaching Excellence team to deliver specific projects and/or initiatives to support teaching excellence.
To ensure that all teaching and learning projects are co-created with students, all ITL Fellows work with a Student Partner in the design and delivery of projects. The Teaching Excellence team works in collaboration with the Student Partnership Team to recruit and support Student Partners working with ITL Fellows.
Honorary ITL Fellows
Honorary ITL Fellows (ITL Fellowship Projects)
Since March 2020, the Teaching Excellence team has supported over 35 academic and Professional Services colleagues who have led projects related to teaching, learning and students. Honorary ITL Fellows who have completed projects are listed by project theme.
Final project reports, which include details of outputs and outcomes, are available at:
| Project theme | Honorary ITL Fellow |
|---|---|
| Assessment and feedback |
|
| Flexible and blended learning |
|
| Inclusive education |
|
| Student engagement and student voice |
|
| Supporting students |
|
Honorary ITL Fellows (Teaching Excellence Awards)
Since 2021, colleagues recognised for their sustained excellence in teaching and learning via the University of Manchester Teaching Excellence Awards have been invited to become Honorary ITL Fellows.
Information about previous award winners and the category of award is available at:
Strategic ITL Fellows
Frances Hooley SFHEA, Evaluation and Impact Project
Frances Hooley SFHEA is a Strategic Fellow of the Institute of Teaching and Learning (ITL) leading the University's Evaluation and Impact Project.
This project aims to standardise evaluation across the University by co-creating an approach based on the Theory of Change. It aims to
- Establish a consistent evaluation framework too support the measurement and reporting of teaching practice effectively and efficiently.
- Create a network of evaluation advocates, consisting of staff and student partners to promote new case studies and drive evaluation using the framework.
- Gather evidence of the new approach, through pilots, to recommend the tools and methods needed for University-wide reporting to support Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and Access and Participation Plans (APP).
Outcomes will include:
- A supportive and active network of advocates who share creative evaluation methods and approaches.
- Co-created set of theory of change materials and guidelines aligning with access and success and TEF requirements.
- A collection of suggested methods and tools that gather evaluation metrics efficiently and sustainably.
- Create exemplars and case studies to share lessons learnt and promote the framework and network.
Dr Miriam Firth PFHEA, PURE Profiles for Teaching and Scholarship (2022/23)
Dr Miriam Firth PFHEA was a Strategic Fellow of the Institute of Teaching and Learning (ITL) who led the University’s PURE profiles for Teaching and Scholarship project in 2022/23.
This year long project in conjunction with the Research and Business Engagement Support Services teams aimed to accomplish two core activities:
- increase access to PURE profiles for all teaching and scholarship staff so that every academic in the University has a PURE profile
- guide all staff to add their teaching expertise and experiences into PURE profiles to effectively showcase our Teaching and Scholarship prowess across the institution.
Further information about the completed project and outcomes is available at PURE Profiles for Teaching and Scholarship.
Visiting ITL Fellows
Professor Julie Hulme NTF PFHEA, Nottingham Trent University (2021-24)
Julie is Professor of Psychology Education at Nottingham Trent University, where she is employed on a 'Teaching and Scholarship' career pathway. A National Teaching Fellow and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Julie champions reward and recognition for people employed in teaching-focused roles in universities, including leading the Professors in Preparation network, which she set up in 2018. Julie is an active and enthusiastic scholar of Higher Education, drawing on psychological theory and research methods to promote inclusion for students and staff, as well as a qualified coach, and a Chartered Psychologist.
Julie was a Visiting ITL Fellow from 2021-2024 and advised the Career Roadmaps Working Group on updates to the Teaching and Scholarship academic promotions documentation.
Contact
For queries or further information, please contact the Teaching Excellence team