March 8, 2017, by Liz Cass

Nottingham shortlisted for two national awards

The University of Nottingham has been shortlisted for two Guardian University Awards.

A project to build creative talent in China and a teaching internship programme for vets have seen the university shortlisted in the International projects and Employability initiative categories respectively.

Dr Paul Greatrix, Registrar at The University of Nottingham said: “This is really positive news and testament to the hard work of colleagues across the University. Both these examples show the University pioneering solutions to problems – both locally and globally – and I’m delighted they have been recognised in this way.”

After identifying a lack of teaching-qualified vets to train the next generation, and enthusiasm from vet students to broaden their skill set, the Teaching Internship Programme was set up.

The programme is aimed at enhancing the employability of graduates by allowing them to combine a teaching qualification during their veterinary degree.

Dr Liz Mossop

A staff-student partnership was central to the project and led the development of the programme and associated teaching placements. Interns have a unique role as Staff-Student Liaison Officers to give fresh insight on many aspects of the curriculum, thereby improving the student experience of undergraduates.

One of the first teaching interns has already secured a teaching post upon completion of the course.

Dr Liz Mossop, Associate Professor in Veterinary Education, said: “The success of the internships has led to development of a similar programme elsewhere in the university. The project was presented at the national VetEd Conference, and received much interest from other vet schools who would like to develop similar ideas.”

 

The Guardian’s International projects category has also put the spotlight on work carried out by the University’s Asia Business Centre and its International Creative Economy Leadership Academy.

The academy is the first of its kind to offer a regional international knowledge exchange network and hub that delivers training, trade and investment support, policy and industry networks, hot-desking space, and research development opportunities.

It has combined two strands of activity – one around the screen industry, building on the work of the Nottingham Screen Partnership, and one around museum management.

Jason Feehily, Director of Knowledge Exchange Asia at the University of Nottingham, said: “It has brought together people who would not have worked with each other before (both within individual universities, and between universities and industry).  It has established new networks, friendships and tangible outcomes.  It has proved to be a springboard for collaboration (research and programming). And it has changed the way that Chinese colleagues work together in-country, by establishing a large knowledge-sharing consortium which will work to address skills issue collaboratively.”

Posted in Awards and accolades