Two National Teaching Fellowships for University of Huddersfield

Liz is Professor of Technology Enhanced Learning and Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education and Professional Development.

She has pioneered curriculum practices using technology enhanced learning techniques and lead the MSc Technology Enhanced Learning for 12 years. Her students who are often teachers in colleges, schools and universities have gone on to bring about change in their institutions. Several have won national awards and several have published in peer-reviewed journals from the work that they developed whilst taking the MSc Technology Enhanced Learning.

As Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education and Professional Development, she has led a programme to reimagine how the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) can more effectively support students. This has led to improvements in student satisfaction and engagement with the VLE and significantly improved accessibility.

Liz has been awarded a University of Huddersfield ‘Star of Covid’ award for the support and vision that she showed colleagues to ensure that the trauma of lockdowns was well managed, and that students’ continued to have an excellent experience despite the challenges that we were all experiencing.

Her award-winning work on students’ responses to learner dashboards focused on how designs could support students to be more active and engaged in their learning when they are provided with data about their progress. Her research indicates that these data dashboards are welcomed by most students, even those who are lower down the cohort, because they this information motivating. It has influenced practices at other institutions and within the field. 

Drawing heavily on his previous career as professional record-producer, Mark has worked in some of the world’s top studios, produced albums for various major labels, and has collaborated with and interviewed some of the world’s foremost producers, including the University's honorary doctorate recipient Andrew Scheps (Adele, Metallica), and Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters). This puts him in the unique position of being able to act as the bridge between practitioner and academia.

Largely based around a digital multitrack treasure-trove of pedagogical assets and tacit knowledge gained through these collaborations – and his ongoing professional practice in the field - he has a highly ‘inspirational’ pedagogical style. By illuminating the inter-relatedness of theory and high-level professional creative practice his methods and resources significantly reduce theory/professional-practice disparities, delivering particularly high vocational relevance.

The reach, value and transformative impact of his teaching and learning excellence was evidenced by the ‘Inspirational Lecturer of the Year’ award, which ran from 2012-2018. A student union initiative allowing students to nominate staff whose ‘outstanding teaching’ made a positive difference, the annual awards received over 700 entries. As well as being nominated every year, and finalist in 2013, Mark won the ‘Inspirational Lecturer of the Year’ award three times, in 2014, 2016 and 2017 (the only lecturer to receive the accolade more than once).

A key aspect of his work is developing teaching and learning in metal-music-production. As the world’s only practice based MTP academic with the necessary understanding, knowledge, and experience, he has founded and shaped metal music production education as a legitimate and valuable international field. From academic scholarship, practitioner-based articles/publications, the world’s first book on the subject and the world’s first research funding in the area (from the Arts and Humanities Research Council), he has provided a unique, renowned national and international contribution to academic literature in this specific field of practice, transforming student learning and teaching profession perspectives alike.

Mark’s passion and excitement for teaching and learning - more specifically music technology and production education - emanates from a deeply-held belief in its capacity to enhance and transform lives through the opportunities it creates.

An independent panel of senior higher education leaders, representing the four UK nations, assures the quality of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence and recommends the winners.   

The Chair of the UK Teaching Excellence Awards Advisory Panel 2023, Professor Becky Huxley-Binns, said each year when the panel selects the NTFS and CATE winners they are left in awe of the extraordinary and gifted people who are teaching with such professionalism, passion, and commitment in higher education.  

“These awards are incredibly important in recognising and celebrating these people and in sharing 'what works' so that colleagues can build on their expertise whilst students get to enjoy the benefits of great practice in teaching and learning.”