Jen Deakin, Course Leader of Graphic Design and Advanced Practitioner at Runshaw College, has been awarded one of seven highly competitive Technical Teaching Fellowships for 2024/25.
These prestigious awards are made jointly by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
Jen’s Fellowship will look at technological innovation in technical education, with a particular focus on the use of artificial intelligence to enhance learning and reduce teacher workload.
For 2024/25, following a review of the impact of the Fellowships in previous years, the geographical eligibility for applications was extended from being England only to the whole of the UK, and the potential number of Fellowships increased. All Fellows now also become alumni of the Royal Commission, providing them with further support to drive quality improvement in technical STEM teaching and training and the opportunity to access further funding.
Applications are assessed against criteria including demonstrating highly effective approaches to improving teaching and learning in technical education, how the Fellowship will be used to inspire others, and the planning of professional development opportunities to impact on the pedagogy and professional practice of other teachers.
Fellows are expected to develop knowledge transfer and exchange activities, sharing effective practice at national and regional conferences and via networks, facilitating CPD and contributing to thought leadership through an established technical community of practice. They will also contribute to a final report to engage and motivate technical education practitioners in their specialist subject areas.
The Fellowships will be formally presented at an event being held at the Royal Society in London on Friday 1 March. That event will also see Fellows from previous years describing their Fellowship activity and its impact.
