National Teaching Fellowship awarded
Dr Phil Vickerman receives award
Last week, LJMU's Dr Phil Vickerman was among 50 lecturers and learning support staff from universities and colleges who received awards worth £50,000 for their excellence in teaching.
The 2005 National Teaching Fellowships - the 'Academic Oscars' - were awarded by Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell at a gala dinner in London.
Dr Phil Vickerman, Head of LJMU's Centre for Sport, won his award in the 'Experienced Staff' category for using his own initial negative experiences of education to show him what could be achieved when teachers help learners to progress and succeed. His work includes supporting students on a BA in Sport Development with Physical Education (PE), undergraduate and postgraduate trainee teachers on BA and PGCE degrees with Qualified Teacher Status, and staff colleagues undertaking traditional and professional doctorates.
His teaching and research focus on the inclusion of children with special educational needs in PE. Dr Vickerman was part of the subject team in PE that gained Category A status in a recent Ofsted inspection - LJMU's School of PE, Sport and Dance remains the only A grade provider in the UK.
Dr Vickerman is planning to use his award for a project to identify students before and during their academic programmes who may need additional support because of disability.
The £2.5 million National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS), now in its sixth year, recognises and rewards outstanding teachers or learning support staff in higher education in England and Northern Ireland. The Scheme is managed by the Higher Education Academy and funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland.
The 50 winners were selected in national competition from a total of 187 nominations submitted by higher education institutions across England and Northern Ireland. Each new Fellow has been awarded £50,000, to be used for projects that will make a significant contribution to learning and teaching.
Since the Scheme began in 2000, a total of 180 National Teaching Fellowships have been awarded. The Fellowship holders come from a wide range of subject areas - from Anthropology to Veterinary Science, from Dance to Dentistry - and from a variety of institutions, including specialist colleges and conservatoires.
To ensure that promoting good practice doesn’t stop at the awards ceremony, an Association of National Teaching Fellows has been set up, with support from the Higher Education Academy, to help disseminate the expertise of the winners to benefit the wider higher education community.
Dr Phil Vickerman
