RVC’s Sarah Baillie wins top teaching award
25 June 2010
The Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) Sarah Baillie has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy. She is only the second vet to achieve this status.
Dr Baillie is best known for her work in creating computer simulations of animals using haptic (touch) technology. However, to achieve National Teaching Fellowship status she had to demonstrate excellence across three categories: transforming the student learning experience, a commitment to ongoing professional development, and supporting colleagues and influencing learning at her own institution and beyond.
Dr Baillie’s Fellowship comes as recognition of her involvement in a wide variety of veterinary educational initiatives and collaborations. Her successful approach has drawn upon years of experience as a vet in practice, which provided invaluable insights into the needs of the profession and new graduates. However, Sarah says, “Being able to really make a difference depended on joining LIVE”, the RVC’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which she describes as “a unique environment in which to move veterinary education forward”.
The fellowship follows a hugely successful 12 months that has seen her being awarded the ‘Most Innovative Teacher of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards and recognised as one of the six ‘Women of Outstanding Achievement in Science, Engineering and Technology’ for 2010.
Professor Stephen May, Vice Principal at the RVC, and the first vet to win a National Teaching Fellowship (in 2004), says, “Without Sarah’s enthusiasm and insight, the RVC’s recent work and commitment towards peer assisted learning and interprofessional education would not have become a reality.
“Sarah has worked tirelessly to secure grants to develop and evaluate learning resources, many of which have been integrated into the curricula of the RVC and beyond.”
“This has brought great benefits to students and fellow staff, and re-affirmed her reputation as an outstanding innovator within science, industry and academia.”
Students learning to perform internal examinations using the Haptic Cow simulator
The 50 award winners for the National Teaching Fellowship were chosen from nominations submitted by Higher Education institutions across England and Northern Ireland. The award will be presented to fellows at a celebration event in London on Wednesday 29th September 2010.
Notes to editors
The Higher Education Academy supports the sector in providing the best possible learning experience for all students. It does this by: providing national leadership in developing and disseminating evidence-informed practice about enhancing the student learning experience; operating as an independent broker, enabling expertise to be shared across institutions and subject areas; working at multiple levels, with individual academics, subject communities, departments, faculties and institutions; working across all parts of the UK, recognising the distinctive policy contexts and priorities of the devolved administrations but also providing opportunities to share expertise among them.
The Academy is an independent organisation funded by grants from the four UK higher education funding bodies, subscriptions from higher education institutions, and grant and contract income for specific initiatives. www.heacademy.ac.uk
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The Royal Veterinary College
Established in 1791, the RVC is the UK’s longest-standing veterinary college—with a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.