HEA Fellowship awarded to university teachers in School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery

University Teachers, Amy Smith and Rachael Duckworth, in the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, have been awarded a HEA Fellowship following their completion of a PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

A collage showing two university teachers - Amy, wearing a pink hoodie, and Rachael, wearing a black top.

As newly appointed teaching staff to the university, Amy and Rachael were keen to develop their skills within higher education teaching so they could support our students effectively. The course gave them the knowledge and confidence to actively map out their curriculums, linking their modules to the programme as a whole and the NMC standards for proficiency for student nurses and trainee nurse associates. 

The course has already had a positive impact on their personal teaching philosophies and their students, helping them to establish credibility and authenticity as university teachers.

Rachael said: "During the final module I carried out a systematic review into embedding resilience and mindfulness into the undergraduate nursing programme as a wellbeing initiative. This was an opportunity to empower nursing students to manage their own wellbeing, and prepare them to manage workplace adversity more effectively. 


As a result of the literature review and survey, I have been able to introduce wellbeing sessions into all programmes within nursing, with a view to helping support a new generation of nurses who are self aware, courageous and resilient in the sense that adapt positively to challenges and difficulties and have strategies to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing.

Rachael Duckworth

University Teacher


Amy added, "Part of the assessment for the course included having my teaching observed by both my peers and the tutors. The feedback gained from this helped me to develop and has made my teaching more effective. Reading the literature around the theory of teaching and applying this to my practice has also helped me to develop and I hope this has made the lessons that I teach relevant and enjoyable for the students."

Congratulations to you both, Amy and Rachael!

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