RVC Lecturer awarded National Teaching Fellowship
27 July 2012
Dr Ayona Silva-Fletcher, senior lecturer in veterinary education at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from The Higher Education Academy (HEA).
The National Teaching Fellowships are the most prestigious awards for excellence in higher education teaching and support for learning. This year 55 award winners were selected from over 180 nominations submitted by higher education institutions across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Each will receive an award of £10,000 which may be used for professional development in teaching and learning or aspects of pedagogy.
Successful nominees were backed by their institutions and submissions had to show evidence of three criteria: individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence and developing excellence.
While at the RVC Dr Silva-Fletcher (pictured right) has had a major impact on the postgraduate distance learning programme; placing greater emphasis on student experience and motivation for those studying from outside the RVC. She developed a tutor training programme to ensure that student feedback is appropriate and valuable to a veterinarian studying from a remote location whether they are in Australia or Africa.
One of the major achievements of Dr Silva-Fletcher during the past four years has been the development of the MSc in Veterinary Education. This is the first discipline-specific postgraduate education programme anywhere in the world targeted at veterinary and para-veterinary educators.
After first qualifying as a veterinarian and achieving her PhD in Animal Nutrition, Dr Silva-Fletcher has spent several years working in a wide variety of academic and research environments internationally. She has considerable experience of most matters relating to veterinary education, both in terms of curriculum design and delivery, and quality assurance.
Professor Stuart Reid, principal at the RVC said: "I am delighted that Dr Silva-Fletcher is to receive this prestigious award as it is a real mark of distinction for one of our most dedicated educators. It also underlines the Royal Veterinary College's commitment to the quality of teaching and the student experience; there can be no better exemplar that Ayona."
Dr Silva-Fletcher said: "In a teaching career of over 20 years, the pinnacle of achievement for me is seeing the transformation of students, from passive to active learners with a burning curiosity to discover and learn, whether they are undergraduates, postgraduates, my colleagues or my own children."
The scheme is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland, and is open to staff whose roles support the student learning experience at institutions in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. For a full list of award winners see 2012 National Teaching Fellows
The new National Teaching Fellows will officially receive their awards at a ceremony which will take place in London on Wednesday 10th October 2012.
Notes for editors
- The Royal Veterinary College is the UK's first and largest veterinary school and a constituent College of the University of London. It also provides support for veterinary and related professions through its three referral hospitals, diagnostic services and continuing professional development courses. www.rvc.ac.uk
- The Higher Education Academy champions excellent learning and teaching in higher education. They are a national and independent organisation, funded by the four UK HE funding bodies and by subscriptions and grants. 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.