Awards for excellence in teaching

Dr Catherine Montgomery, Associate Director for the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Kevin Kerrigan, Associate Dean in the School of Law will each receive an award of £10,000 to be used for their professional development in teaching and learning.

Dr Montgomery is an inspiring teacher whose specialisms are in sociolinguistics, English language and researching the social and cultural contexts on teaching, learning and assessment.

In her current  role as leader of research and evaluation projects in the CETL she has had the opportunity to influence student learning by advising, co-teaching, leading development of and evaluating different disciplinary projects.

Her reputation for developing staff understanding of international pedagogy is demonstrated by the number of conferences she is invited to speak at. In the last nine years she has presented 28 papers in eight different countries.

Catherine's new book 'Understanding the international student experience' was published in January 2010 and has sold copies across the UK, and Australia and the USA.

Kevin has made professional legal practice central to his university teaching and scholarship. As a criminal law solicitor he represents clients at all levels and passionately believes that students should learn by doing. He helped build the Student Law Office, recognised as one of the leading law clinics in the world, where, under supervision, students provide a pro bono legal service for the public.

As editor of the International Journal of Clinical legal Education, he enables global dissemination of scholarship relating to legal education through experience. He organises conferences and other events which bring together practitioner academics from all over the world to debate the latest thinking in legal education.
Kevin and Dr Montgomery are two of just 50 people to be awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from almost 200 nominations.

Professor Sue Law, Director of Academic Practice at the Higher Education Academy, said: “I am delighted to congratulate our new National Teaching Fellows. Their commitment and dedication to supporting learning, teaching and work to maximise student potential is most impressive.

“Good teaching is the cornerstone of a positive student experience. We at the Academy work to support HE teachers in delivering a world-class service to their students.’’

The scheme raises the profile of learning and teaching in higher education and recognises and celebrates individuals who make an outstanding impact on the student learning experience.

The awards will be presented to Fellows at a celebration event in London in September.