Latest news from Loughborough University
| 11 July 2006 | PR 06/83 |
Loughborough lecturer is a jolly good fellow
A lecturer from Loughborough University has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy.
Professor John Dickens, Associate Dean (Teaching) of Engineering at Loughborough University, is one of just 50 people chosen to receive the accolade this year.
The award was made in recognition of his important role in several areas of University life, including his imaginative approach to teaching Civil Engineering, his methods of recording student achievement and his efforts to make life easier for disabled students.
Speaking about his award, Professor Dickens said: “I have been teaching for many years and it is great to receive national recognition from my peers for the work I have done. Working with able young students is very stimulating and seeing many of my past students achieving prominent positions in the construction industry is very rewarding.”
A Civil Engineering Design Option devised by Professor Dickens was so successful that Engineering students now take it as a core module. External examiners and others were impressed by the way students were encouraged to become involved in the whole design process and by the input from industry.
As Director of the Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre (EngSC) and Director of the Engineering Centre for Excellence for Teaching and Learning (engCETL), Professor Dickens is heavily involved in the work of both Loughborough-based centres to promote the enhancement of student learning nationally.
His excellence was recognised in 2005 by the award of a Personal Chair in Engineering Education – the first time Loughborough University has made such an appointment based primarily on work in learning and teaching.
The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme recognises and rewards teachers and learning support staff in higher education for their excellence in teaching. This year, there were a record 242 nominations.
ENDS
For all media enquiries contact:
- Professor John Dickens, Associate Dean (Teaching) of Engineering,
Loughborough University,
T: 01509 227530, E: J.Dickens@lboro.ac.uk - Jo Marlow, Public Relations Officer, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 228697, E: J.L.Smyth@lboro.ac.uk
Notes to editors
Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place it in the top flight of UK universities; the National Student Survey ranked Loughborough equal first among full-time students; and industry highlights the University in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 40% of Loughborough’s income is for research, and 60% for teaching. The University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; for pioneering research in optical engineering; for its world-leading role in sports research, education and development; and for its outstanding work in evaluating and helping to develop social policy-related programmes.
In 2006 Loughborough celebrates the 40th anniversary of its University Charter, awarded on 19 April 1966 in recognition of the excellence achieved by Loughborough College of Advanced Technology and its predecessor Colleges. Loughborough University of Technology was renamed Loughborough University in 1996.