Dr David Nichol

Dr David Nichol is an Assistant Professor of Education at Northumbria University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). His research examines academic identity and the ways collaborative, co-constructive pedagogies can enrich professional learning. He focuses particularly on designing and evaluating innovative, practice-informed approaches that strengthen educator confidence and preparedness in both school and higher education settings.

A central strand of David's research is SimulatEd, a body of work investigating simulation-based learning (SBL) in Teacher Education. Through this work, he explores how different simulation modalities can be used to rehearse professional practice, build practitioner identity, and support educators before and during their entry into the classroom, including examining teacher attrition and challenging assumptions about the relationship between technological sophistication and learning outcomes. This work has been shared internationally, including with colleagues in Belgium, Sweden, Israel, and Nigeria, and has informed grant applications and partnerships aimed at extending simulation-based approaches to teacher training beyond the UK.

David's work sits at the intersection of pedagogy and professional practice, with a keen interest in how structural and institutional conditions shape the experiences of early career academics. He is committed to developing inclusive, sustainable models of academic development and to rethinking how professional learning is supported across diverse educational contexts.

David currently leads the MA Education, Distance learning route for practising and aspiring educators seeking to develop their professional practice while balancing work and study. In this role, he draws on his research into professional learning, academic identity, and simulation-based approaches to shape a curriculum that is responsive to the realities of studying at a distance, with particular attention to building strong support structures, flexible pedagogical approaches, and a genuine sense of community among a geographically dispersed student body.

In 2024, David received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) in recognition of his contributions to teaching and academic development. He has also led academic development programmes in the Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) sector, reflecting his ongoing commitment to supporting educators at all stages of their careers.