Head of Learning and Teaching appointed

01 August 2008

HEFCE is pleased to announce that Heather Fry has been appointed Head of Learning and Teaching at HEFCE from 10 November 2008.

Heather will lead the development and implementation of policy in learning and teaching, including quality assurance and enhancement, and the development of the student experience.

Heather is the founding Head of the Centre for Educational Development at Imperial College London. She joined Imperial in 2000 and is a Reader in Higher and Professional Education.

She currently leads a team of a dozen staff who work collaboratively across the institution to enhance learning and teaching and raise its profile. Among other activities, she has played a large part in the development and leadership of several innovative programmes including a university teaching certificate, a masters degree in university learning and teaching, and another in surgical education. She was an elected member of the Council of the Higher Education Academy from 2005-07.

Heather started her career in Nigeria. After teaching and lecturing there she took up an academic post at the Institute of Education, University of London, working for some years in the Centre for Higher Education Studies, Department of Policy Studies, and also at the Bart's and London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary, University of London.

Her current research passion is how teaching, curriculum organisation and manipulation of 'context' can support and expand learning. She is one of the editors of the widely used 'Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Enhancing Academic Practice' (with Steve Ketteridge and Stephanie Marshall, third edition 2008, Routledge).

She said:

'I am looking forward enormously to the challenge of working with the higher education sector in England for the benefit of learning and teaching, students and staff.'

John Selby, HEFCE Director of Education and Participation, said:

'I am very pleased that we have appointed Heather Fry to this post and look forward to working with her. She has a wide range of experience and will bring a very deep understanding of the policy issues facing teaching and learning in higher education in England to the role.'

Page last updated 10 February 2012