HEFi Teaching & Learning Awards 2020/21

HEFi Teaching & Learning Awards celebrate teaching excellence in the context of our contemporary, research-intensive university. The HEFi Awards are peer-nominated, and the aim is to recognise academic and professional services colleagues who design, deliver and/or support exceptional student learning. 

HEFi Awards Group

We are please to announce the shortlisted nominees and winners below.

Learn more about the HEFi Awards categories for 2021, and find out who has been shortlisted:

The Award for Digital Learning

Two awards will be made (one individual and one team) to staff who have demonstrated innovation in online teaching and support that has had a positive impact on student learning over the last 12 months. The judges will be looking for innovation that has had a transformative effect on teaching during the pandemic and that has the potential to be both sustainable and transferable into other contexts.

Shortlisted

  • Virtual Year Abroad (Modern Languages)
  • Virtual practical class teaching team (SportEx)
  • Edd Kyi
  • Matt Turner
  • Matt Edwards & Natalie Rowles (Careers Network)
  • The 'Anderson' Professional Services Team

Winners

  • Edd Kyi
  • Virtual Year Abroad (Modern Languages)
  • Matt Edwards & Natalie Rowles (Careers Network)

The Award for Inclusive Education

Two awards (one individual and one team) will recognise a commitment to developing an inclusive learning environment, whether face-to-face or online, in which all students feel they belong, are respected, and can learn optimally. The judges will be looking for best practice in inclusive learning design and evidence of strategies for inclusive education that could be transferable into other contexts.

Shortlisted

  • Earth Science Geo Equality
  • Lorna Hollowood
  • Rachel Sykes
  • EPS Foundation year
  • Owen Forster and Shola Apena Rogers (Psychology Team)

Winners

  • Lorna Hollowood
  • Owen Forster and Shola Apena Rogers (Psychology Team)

The Award for Educational Leadership

The award recognises the full range of educational leadership that exists in the University of Birmingham and the many ways in which leadership has been demonstrated in our response to the pandemic. Two awards will be made this year, to individuals who have used their leadership skills to promote a commitment to compassionate, inclusive, innovative approaches to teaching and supporting learning.  The judges will be looking for individuals who, in their own immediate context and beyond, have supported, guided and/or influenced others to adapt to new ways of working and have a positive impact on student learning. 

Shortlisted

  • Ema Sullivan-Bissett
  • Sam Cruchley
  • Nicola Smith
  • Julia Lodge

Winners

  • Ema Sullivan-Bissett
  • Nicola Smith

The Award for Outstanding Support for Student Education

Two awards (one individual and one team) will recognise those who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to supporting students to learn and preparing them for their futures against the backdrop of the pandemic.  The judges will be looking for evidence of student-centred practice that has fostered a sense of community and has supported students to develop the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful on graduation.

Shortlisted

  • Drama and Theatre Arts Production Team
  • Birmingham Centre for Clinical Trials (Sara Brookes & Razia Meer-Baloch)
  • The BioLabs Teaching Laboratory Technicians
  • Mahmoud Alajaty
  • Tendayi Bloom

Winners

  • Tendayi Bloom
  • Birmingham Centre for Clinical Trials (Sara Brookes & Razia Meer-Baloch)

The Award for Personal Academic Tutor of the Year

Two awards will recognise the vital role that a personal academic tutor has played in supporting and developing their students in an uncertain, changing and challenging environment. The judges will be looking for individuals who have supported students and enhanced the student learning experience through personal tutoring in a bi-modal learning environment. They will have demonstrated an effective approach to academic support and enabled an environment where staff and students can work together on developing students’ academic skills, personal and employability through the use of innovative tutoring techniques.  

Shortlisted

  • Scott Taylor
  • Jane Nicol
  • Sarah Hall
  • Tendayi Bloom
  • Leah-Nani Alconcel

Winners

  • Leah-Nani Alconcel
  • Scott Taylor

The Award for HEFi Teacher of the Year

This award celebrates the achievements of an outstanding colleague who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the provision of education at the University of Birmingham. The award winner will have a passion and drive for education that is recognised and respected by their peers and (where appropriate) students. The judges will be looking for evidence of teaching and leadership informed by engagement with research, impact on student learning, a commitment to reflection, collaboration and continuing professional development, and extensive influence that makes a notable difference to the provision of teaching and learning at the University of Birmingham.

Shortlisted

  • Fotis Spyropoulos
  • Maria Michail
  • Emma Flint
  • James Everest
  • Sarah-Jane Fenton

Winners

  • Emma Flint

 Please contact hefi@contacts.bham.ac.uk if you require any further information about these awards