Creative Futures Innovation Toolkit

As graduation week approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the journey this past year. My second year as a university lecturer has felt like a turning point. It has been a time of development, both professionally and personally, and I feel more confident about the direction I want to take.

In my first year, I was focused on settling into the role, learning the systems, and getting to grips with the realities of teaching in higher education. Although I had worked in the sector before, stepping into a full academic role brought a new set of responsibilities and expectations. It was a steep but rewarding learning curve. This year has been more about self-discovery, refining my interests, and taking on challenges that align with my values and strengths.

One of the biggest milestones was taking on module leadership for Employability Skills and Managing your Digital Footprint, a unit with over 400 students. I was fortunate to be supported by John Byrne, whose guidance made a real difference. I was pleased with how it all came together, particularly the introduction of a video element to the assessment, which helped bring a more reflective and personal dimension to the students’ submissions.

Working with our Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship students continues to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. I’ve loved collaborating with Vicky on our modules and seeing the apprentices grow in confidence throughout their first year. Their ability to apply learning directly to the workplace makes the teaching feel relevant and impactful.

Supervising final-year students on their Synoptic Business Projects has been another real privilege. I was genuinely inspired by the quality of their ideas and their commitment to exploring meaningful topics.

I’ve also enjoyed working with David Evans on the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Apprenticeship. The first cohort delivered some excellent and thought-provoking work. Cohort two have brought great energy and fresh perspectives, which has made the teaching really enjoyable.

This year I have also taken on the role of DELTA Lead within the department. A particular highlight has been working with Becky to explore how Adobe Express can support creative approaches to teaching. It has been exciting to look at how digital tools can help us communicate ideas more clearly and make learning experiences more engaging.

Being part of the I-Tell committee has been equally rewarding. It is a fantastic group to be involved with, and it has been great to see how our shared resources are helping to make teaching more active and collaborative across the faculty.

On a personal level, this year marked the beginning of my doctoral journey. I started with plenty of imposter syndrome and moments of self-doubt, but I am now starting to find my voice and enjoy the process. I am really grateful to Paul and Richard for their encouragement and support.

Finally, I was proud to be promoted to Senior Lecturer. It feels like a meaningful step and a reflection of the progress I’ve made, as well as the fantastic colleagues and collaborators I’ve had the chance to work with. When I shared the news publicly, I was particularly touched by the kind messages from students, including a few I had taught back in my secondary school days. That meant a great deal.

It has been a full and fulfilling year. I am looking forward to the next chapter.