Bradford academic librarian awarded National Teaching Fellowship

Sarah George is one of 55 new National Teaching Fellows (NTFs) revealed by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) today (Thursday 31 August 2017).

A National Teaching Fellowship is the most prestigious individual award for excellence in teaching in higher education.

Sarah is subject librarian for archaeology, chemistry, environment, forensics and integrated sciences.

Successful nominees were nominated by their institutions and submissions had to show evidence of three criteria: individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence, and developing excellence.

Sarah’s citation said that she has made a sustained, distinctive and outstanding contribution to the development and embedding of new, innovative and inclusive approaches to supporting students to become fully digitally and information literate. She has transformed the approaches to developing students’ academic practice by moving away from the traditional bolt on approach to study skills towards an integrated approach delivered collaboratively by academic librarians, subject academics and academic support staff.

She is also leading on work on accessibility, driving up standards, ensuring equality of experience, and benefiting the student body nationally.

Sarah said: 'I am thrilled and pleasantly flabbergasted to be awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. I account this very much to a team effort with my wonderful colleagues in the library and it would not have been possible without the support of colleagues from across the institution, especially from archaeology, chemistry and the Centre for Educational Development.'

HEA Chief Executive, Professor Stephanie Marshall, said: ‘A National Teaching Fellowship is the most prestigious individual award for excellence in teaching in higher education. These awards represent a fantastic achievement by all 55 new NTFs. I am sure the whole sector joins me in applauding them in their success.’

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education. There are now over 750 NTFs, representing more than 40 discipline areas. The awards support individuals’ professional development in learning and teaching.

The University’s Pharmacy Curriculum Team is also one of 15 teams nationally shortlisted for a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). The CATE recognises outstanding contributions to teaching by teams at higher education providers. Six of these institutions will be awarded grants of £15,000 to disseminate their learning. The six teams will be announced at the formal celebration event for all these awards in November 2017.