Two University of Central Lancashire academics have been recognised for their outstanding impact in higher education teaching.

Dr Clive Palmer, Senior Lecturer in Sport, PE and the Outdoors, and Anna Coonan-Byrom, Lecturer in Midwifery, recently received their Advance HE National Teaching Fellowships (NTF) at a black-tie event in Manchester.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme showcases the outstanding impact of individuals and teams who teach or support learning in UK higher education, recognising their success and providing a platform to share the learning from their practice

Clive draws upon his varied background in sport, engineering, the arts and philosophy to experiment with teaching innovations. After training as an RAF Apprentice Engineer, Clive became a school teacher and since 2000 he has worked as a lecturer/curriculum designer-come-research supervisor in higher education.

Clive said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this NTF award. It is recognition for my efforts to promote learning in exciting ways, to challenge the traditional hierarchy of knowledge creation and refocus on the status of authorship in academia – concerning who might be learning from whom.”

Anna is a member of UCLan’s Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture Unit. She led the vision and operational framework for an immersive case-based learning midwifery curriculum, that stimulates social and active learning with ‘real-life’ application. This curriculum approach has had national and global impact.

Anna said: “It is such a privilege to receive this award recognising my desire to transform midwifery education, through dynamic, student-centred approaches, to improve outcomes for all women and babies.”

Alison Johns, Advance HE’s Chief Executive, said: “Congratulations to all our 2019 winners. Becoming a National Teaching Fellow is a huge achievement. It can be truly life-changing.

“Creating ambassadors for innovative and impactful teaching who are valued by institutions and colleagues, and who can set in motion change and enhancements to make a really positive impact on student experience and outcomes across their institution and beyond.”

Read more: Industry award win for UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre

What do you think of Anna and Clive’s awards? Let us know in the comments.