Mr Jamie Thompson

Jamie Thompson is a Learning and Teaching Advisor (Principal Lecturer) at Northumbria University. Originally a Probation Officer, Jamie led the tendering process to establish Northumbria as one of the institutions nationally delivering the Probation Qualifying Award for the Home Office. This was cutting-edge work which required the design and delivery of a two-year first degree combined with a vocational qualification. The new programme quickly established a strong reputation with the regional probation services, with the Home Office Training Inspectorate, and with the trainees. Jamie's co-authored textbook Knowledge and the Probation Service presents resources for a complex and detailed curriculum in an accessible format. A focus of Jamie's teaching now is on the Postgraduate Certificate for new academic staff and the staff Professional Doctorate/ Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. Working across ranges of experience, background and discipline is a challenging but stimulating learning environment. He works with colleagues in different ways to support reflection on, and the development of, teaching practice. His specialist areas of interest, experience and expertise include: Personal Development Planning (PDP), ePortfolios, supporting and guiding student development, work-based learning and internationalising the curriculum. In his own institution he has had a considerable influence on learning and teaching strategy. Over the last three years Jamie has been involved in developing and leading a unique collaboration across the HE sector investigating the development of the qualities and characteristics students need to become lifelong learners. ''In a short space of time Jamie has welded together a group of educators from across a disparate range of universities. His enthusiasm, vision and drive has enabled a project to be established which supports the activities of educational development practitioners and has the potential to significantly enhance student learning in a range of situations,'' (Dr Mark Atlay, Director of Learning and Teaching, University of Bedfordshire). Jamie is currently coordinating a HEFCE /Paul Hamlyn funded consortium seeking to improve student retention strategies.