A University of Bath lecturer has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship.
Alan Hayes, Director of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science, is one of 50 lecturers and learning support staff in the UK to be awarded the accolade from the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Alan joined the University in 2008 and has since had a major impact on many aspects of his subject and department, from instigating change through his work on the Honours degree in Computer Science, to introducing new educational technologies which have benefitted staff and students.
The award winners were chosen from 203 nominations submitted by further and higher education institutions across England and Northern Ireland and will each receive an award of £10,000. The award may be used for Fellows’ professional development in teaching and learning.
Alan said: “I am delighted to receive a National Teaching Fellowship. During my career I have always felt very privileged to help and support students in their learning. I know too that the development of excellence in learning and teaching is a core value held by my colleagues at the University of Bath and I am grateful for their support in helping me to achieve this recognition.”
Alan graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1984 and became a statistician in the field of business before pursuing an academic career with London’s South Bank University and then as Head of Computing with the University of Wales, Newport before being promoted to the position of Dean of Computing and Engineering in 1999.
He became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2007 and last year joined the University of Bath as Director of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science.
The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) is part of an overall Academy programme to raise the status of learning and teaching in higher education. It comprises two strands: Individual National Teaching Fellowship Awards, and Projects. It is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (DELNI).
The individual strand of the scheme aims to raise the profile of learning and teaching, recognise and celebrate individuals who make an outstanding impact on the student learning experience, and provide a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes.