Professor Hilary Burgess

National Teaching Fellow 2013 Professor Hilary Burgess' approach to learning and teaching has been influenced by her early career as a primary school teacher and her roles in teacher training that have included leading a large Primary PGCE programme and mentor training for primary and secondary school teachers. Her teaching activities include supervising EdD and PhD students and leading the Professional Enquiry module, a course that is taken by all students following the Masters in Education: Learning and Teaching. One of her guiding principles is a belief that student support is essential to successful outcomes for the diverse body of learners studying in higher education, many of whom are at a distance in the UK or are overseas. Her work with doctoral students and with primary and secondary school teachers are the main areas where she has enhanced and transformed the student learning experience. She has achieved this through designing programmes with support systems and making innovative use of new technologies. Hilary aims to inspire students studying at a distance and develop their commitment to learning through the course material she has written and by providing imaginative and accessible resources for them to use. She has extensive experience of working in Doctorate of Education programmes and has received high praise in her student evaluations. As one student commented: "The content of the seminar is very relevant to me. The presentation is precise and clear. Thank you!" She is Chair of the National Network for EdD Directors and regularly advises other universities on revising their programmes. She has delivered many international workshops and conference papers on professional doctorates and teacher professional development. Hilary's funded projects include research into the impact of undertaking a professional doctorate and a TEMPUS project on developing capacity in teacher professional development, the practicum and action research with universities in the Middle East and North Africa.