An outstanding academic from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has today (Thursday August 6) been recognised with the higher education’s top teaching award.
Zoë Allman, Associate Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media (CEM) at DMU, has been chosen as one of just 55 academics in the country to be awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE.
But what makes her award different is that she no longer teaches students directly – instead, she is responsible for ensuring that CEM’s thousands of students get the best possible experience. As Associate Dean (Academic) it is her job to empower and develop some 400 academic colleagues who deliver the very best teaching.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been recognised by Advance HE and awarded National Teaching Fellowship. It’s a tribute to all the excellent students and colleagues with whom I work every day and I would like to thank the wonderful team at DMU who supported my application for this award. I feel very honoured to be recognised for the work I undertake to support and enhance the student and staff experience at De Montfort.”
Judges recognised her skills in developing others as a regular mentor and reviewer as well as her passion for enhancing teaching and learning for students and colleagues.
Zoë currently leads on key projects for DMU, including its work to enhance mental wellbeing provision for students, alongside her faculty role.
Having studied for both her undergraduate and postgraduate awards at DMU, she began her career as a lecturer in television production before going on to lead the flagship Media Production programme, enhancing industry links to benefits students and championing new ways of teaching.
She then became the faculty’s Head of Studies, responsible for enhancing the experience of 3,700 students.
She said that her academic background in media production and creative technologies still influences her work today. Zoë has twice won teaching awards at DMU after being nominated by her students, and has been recognised for teaching excellence as a university Teacher Fellow.
The awards are presented annually by Advance HE to those seen as making an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education.
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.
Alison Johns, Advance HE CEO said: “I am sure I am joined by the entire sector in congratulating the 2020 NTFS and CATE awardees. All of the winners should be extremely proud of their achievement of what are prestigious, national teaching awards. Their work epitomises the outstanding commitment to teaching in the UK higher education sector, which this year has been more demanding than ever before. Well done to each and every one of them.
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This is the latest recognition demonstrating the quality of teaching and learning at DMU, which achieved the best possible outcome - a Gold Award - in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), reflecting the quality of teaching, learning and outcomes the university delivers for its students.
Posted on Thursday 6 August 2020