Celebrating staff success through the FLAIR CPD scheme, Professor Matthew Almond

Friday, 22 January 2016

Professor Matthew Almond has been awarded Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) in recognition of his contribution to teaching and student learning. He becomes the fifth Principal Fellow at the University of Reading (with Professor Gavin Brooks, Professor Julian Park, Professor Robert Van de Noort and Dr Paddy Woodman). Less than 500 Principal Fellowships have been awarded in total, demonstrating that this is a significant achievement. 

Professor Almond applied for the Fellowship through the University's HEA accredited FLAIR CPD scheme. “I am delighted to be awarded Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy” says Professor Almond. “I believe that this award acknowledges my work over many years in Teaching and Learning in this University – in particular working with students and colleagues across many parts of the campus to help to deliver high quality Teaching and Learning. I would like to acknowledge the strong level of support from staff and students that I have always received. Teaching and Learning depends upon teamwork and partnerships and the strength of these at Reading is reflected in the large number of Teaching and Learning awards that colleagues across the campus have received. I would also like to acknowledge the excellent work that all on the FLAIR team do to promote the benefits of HEA fellowship and to work with colleagues to help them in their applications.”

Since being rolled out in January 2015, more than 200 colleagues have enrolled onto the FLAIR CPD scheme and over 50 awards have been made to colleagues from across the University (7 Associate Fellows, 17 Fellows, 32 Senior Fellows and 2 Principal Fellows). A special celebration event was held in December for all who had gained Fellowship through the FLAIR Framework (which includes both the CPD scheme and the taught Academic Practice Programme). The Vice-Chancellor congratulated all those awarded Fellowships and thanked them for their ongoing commitment and contribution to teaching and student learning. 

If you are interested in taking part in the scheme, please see the CQSD website for details on their regular briefing events. Further details can also be found in the scheme flyer here. Places on the scheme can be booked through ESS.