Reader in Working and Learning wins National Teaching Fellowship
Dr Kevin Orr, of the School of Education and Professional Development, is a Reader in Work and Learning and has just won a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy
Thu, 12 Jun 2014 12:17:00 BST
Dr Kevin Orr will use the NTF grant of £10,000 to investigate work-related learning, specifically in Australia and the U.S.
THE University of Huddersfield’s unrivalled run of success in the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme continues. Its latest Fellow is Dr Kevin Orr, of the School of Education and Professional Development, where he is Reader in Work and Learning. The £10,000 award will enable him to boost his expertise, with plans taking shape for ambitious overseas research trips.
It also upholds a tradition of family success, because Dr Orr’s sister, Professor Susan Orr, was appointed a National Teaching Fellow in 2010.
Funded by official bodies that include the Higher Education Funding Council for England and administered by the Higher Education Academy, the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme recognises and rewards excellence in learning and teaching. Every year some 50 awards of £10,000 are made. The money is to enable recipients to enhance their professional development. Since the scheme began in 2000, the University of Huddersfield has had 14 award winners and it has had more NTFs than any other university in the country over the past seven years.
As a teacher and researcher, Dr Orr’s interests revolve around work-related learning and the National Teaching Fellowship will enable him to investigate the topic on a global level, with a special focus on Australia and the USA.
“Australia has got a vocational education and training sector which is very well developed. It has some similarities with that in Britain, but I am particularly interested in learning from people who are researching in this area in Australia. Also, I am interested in the USA and its college-based higher education,” said Dr Orr, who himself taught in UK Further Education colleges before his switch to the university sector.
A current project at the University of Huddersfield is a collaboration with Dr Yun Gao, who is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture. Dr Orr is fascinated by the system of training within architecture, a high-status profession that maintains a form of apprenticeship, backed up by degree study.
“I am interested in looking at what works within architecture and seeing how that might apply elsewhere. Trained architects see an important part of their role as being educators, pedagogues for the next generation.”
