Published on 12 December 2018
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Dr Lynne McKenna, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Society, has been named a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
The achievement is in recognition of Dr McKenna’s sustained leadership in teaching and learning to improve the student experience, she joins a small group of HEA Principal Fellows at Sunderland.
The Principal Fellowship provides recognition of an individual’s distinguishable contribution and achievement of significant influence and enhancement of learning and teaching in higher education through the promotion of professional standards. Principal Fellows are typically highly experienced with wide-ranging strategic leadership responsibilities, in connection with key aspects of teaching and supporting learning. Today there are around 560 Principal Fellows across the UK.
Dr McKenna’s bases the success of her fellowship on her continuous improvement and professionalism agenda, providing evidence of the impact she’s had within her own Faculty as Head of School of Education previously and since March 2018 as Dean.
Dr McKenna said: “I am delighted to be recognised as a Principal fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am very fortunate to have had a very broad and interesting career that has allowed me to work with a range of amazing students and colleagues in the UK and overseas.”
Dr McKenna has worked in education since qualifying from the University of Sunderland as a teacher in 1991. Since 1997, the main focus of her work has been Initial Teacher Training (ITT) however, since 2003, she has been a senior higher education manager.
She explained: “My experience in higher education coupled with an ability to horizon scan, to integrate my research with learning and teaching and to provide strategic leadership and direction setting, has provided me with a wealth of experience in programme design and delivery, leadership in teaching and learning, pedagogic enhancement and curriculum development which has impacted on student experience and outcomes, making an outstanding contribution to knowledge and practice.
“My senior leadership roles in higher education have built upon these approaches and have enabled me to impact upon national policy in teacher training through my work with the Department for Education, and MillionPlus, and International Teacher training through my work with ETEN (European Teacher Educator Network) and TEPE (Teacher Education Policy in Europe) and currently with the (DIT) Department for International Trade.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Michael Young, said: "Many congratulations to Lynne on her well-deserved success. Achieving HEA Fellowship at any level is a valuable personal experience and also benefits the University and our students. I encourage all staff, including our senior colleagues, to consider fellowship through our supportive CELT scheme."
Role of Principal Fellow
A Principal Fellow demonstrates effective strategic leadership in academic practice and academic development as a key contribution to high quality student learning. This includes:
- Active commitment to and championing of all Dimensions of the UKPSF Framework, through work with students and staff, and in institutional developments
- Successful, strategic leadership to enhance student learning, with a particular, but not necessarily exclusive, focus on enhancing teaching quality in institutional, and/or (inter)national settings
- Establishing effective organisational policies and/or strategies for supporting and promoting others (e.g., through mentoring, coaching) in delivering high quality teaching and support for learning
- Championing, within institutional and/or wider settings, an integrated approach to academic practice (incorporating, for example, teaching, learning, research, scholarship, administration, etc.)
- A sustained and successful commitment to, and engagement in, continuing professional development related to academic, institutional and/or other professional practices.