Professor Helen O’Sullivan, Academic Lead for Online Learning, and Mr Warren Barr, Academic Lead for the Student Experience in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, have become the first members of staff to achieve Principal Fellowship of ULTRA – the University of Liverpool Teaching Recognition and Accreditation framework.
Principal Fellowship is awarded to highly experienced staff who demonstrate successful strategic leadership to enhance the student experience. The awards are recognition of the commitment that both Helen and Warren have made to all aspects of learning and teaching across the University.
Recognition
Dr Anne Qualter, Director of Academic Development and Lifelong Learning, commented: “It is great to see staff attaining Principal Fellowship after a rigorous process involving external review and matching against the demanding criteria UK Professional Standards Framework.
“Helen and Warren join a small band of university academics with Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy nationally (automatically awarded by HEA in recognition of the standards applied by ULTRA). Warmest congratulations to them both.”
Commenting on her award, Professor O’Sullivan said: “I am particularly delighted to have gained Principal Fellowship through the University’s ULTRA Framework. It’s fantastic that we now have a framework that enables colleagues to gain internal and external recognition for teaching excellence.
“All staff who teach at Liverpool have the opportunity to gain Fellowship of the HEA through ULTRA and I am looking forward to supporting as many as possible in taking up this opportunity for personal development and to enhance the University’s reputation for excellence in learning and teaching”
Supporting learning
Dr Barr added: “I found the application process very rewarding. It gave me a chance to reflect not only on my career at Liverpool, but also on some of the key changes in policy and practice that I have been involved with in partnership with many talented staff across the University, which was a very empowering experience.
“I look forward to helping promote the ULTRA scheme across the institution to help staff have the dedication and excellence in learning and teaching which I see every day in my role as Student Experience lead appropriately recognised.”
ULTRA is being rolled out across the University, and provides an informal experience-based route to a teaching qualification for any experienced member of staff who teaches or supports learning.
Further information is available on the Educational Development website, or contact Dr Janis McIntyre at Janis.mcintyre@liverpool.ac.uk.