Dr Stephen Corbett, a Head of School at the University of Portsmouth, has been nationally recognised for his outstanding impact on teacher training for students and staff in colleges, universities and for military service leavers.
He is one of only 50 Higher Education professionals across the country who have been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE this year.
Currently Interim Head of School of Languages and Applied Linguistics in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Stephen's work leading major developments and innovations in Initial Teacher Training for Further Education (FE) staff on campus in Portsmouth and through a collaborative network of five FE colleges has been recognised.
He was instrumental in improving the Ofsted rating of our FE PGCE programme, who recognised his thoughtful leadership to encourage trainees to become reflective teachers, and improve their career prospects.
Stephen also led the development of the highly innovative Futher Forces Programme, the first course in the country for military service leaves who want to train as FE teachers. The Future Forces Programme, commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, Department for Education, Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Education and Training Foundation, has allowed Portsmouth to be the first to develop a course with distance learning delivery for service leavers as they transition from serving military personnel.
His readiness to help and support colleagues across his Faculty, the University and wider sector, was also recognised by the award. For example in his work on the national Study Programme: Teacher Development project where he worked with colleagues for the benefit of the teaching profession in the sector. Many teachers engaged with the training and plan to use the assessment framework for students' soft skill development in their practice, and universities have integrated it into their Initial Teacher Education programmes. Stephen also initiated a programme to increase the number of Fellows and Senior Fellows and monthly teaching and learning sessions in the Schools he has led. He also provided mentorship to a team of staff in another Faculty in relation to teaching and learning.
Stephen said: "It is my belief that education has the ability to enact positive change in a person's life. Not simply through the acquisition of qualifications, but also the process of learning and social development. I'm honoured to receive a National Teaching Fellowship, and I'm looking forward to joining the Fellowship's community of expert educators. I am thankful to the range of excellent colleagues I have worked with in both further and higher education and I will continue to champion the value of education in lifelong learning."
Dr Harriet Dunbar-Morris, Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University, said: "At Portsmouth we are very supportive of colleagues like Stephen who 'create, share and apply knowledge to make a difference to individuals and society' in line with our University mission. I'm very pleased that Stephen's excellence has been recognised nationally. He brings together expertise of both Higher Education and Further Education to enhance teaching, learning and the student experience, to benefit both sectors and the work that we do at Portsmouth with our partner colleges. We are fortunate to have him as a colleague."
Three other members of staff currently at the University are also National Teaching Fellows:
- Amy Barlow
- Professor Jane Creaton
- Professor Sherria Hoskins
