Professor Mark O Hara

As a former early years and primary teacher the overarching narrative underpinning Professor Mark O'Hara's career in HE is one of widening participation and inclusion for students and staff alike. He makes sure that academic protocols are made explicit to all and fosters a spirit of cooperation, recognising teamwork and effort as well as individual attainment. Mark finds sustainable ways of personalising the curriculum and provides opportunities for sustained shared thinking that cast and stretch students as researchers. His work on inclusive practice has also focused on disabled students. Whilst HEIs are increasingly successful at encouraging disabled students to declare their disabilities, individually managing the consequent reasonable adjustments is becoming unsustainable. Impact of work He established the High Achievers Recognition Scheme (HARS) at BCU - one of only two in the country. The scheme recognises 'distance travelled' as well as First Class marks. It has been an outstanding success and now boasts over 750 students per annum. Collaborative working with internal and external stakeholders has been exceptionally fruitful and HARS continues to go from strength-to-strength as other HEIs and faculties seek to learn about what has been achieved. He has led numerous institutional inclusivity projects benefitting thousands of students and pioneered staff development programmes to promote more inclusive practices. He is currently Chair the UK RAISE Networks Inclusive Practice SIG and sits on the DFEs Disabled Students Sector Leadership Group (DSSLG) whose first report was published by the DFE in January 2017. Mark's drive to widen participation by staff includes championing the development of a uniquely constructive, collegial and transformational approach to teaching observations. The outcome is a scheme that has been described by observers and observees alike as immensely worthwhile. There can t be many teaching observation schemes in UK HEIs which have a waiting list; this one has tutors queuing up to be observed and/or trained as observers. Plans for the future Looking ahead, widening participation continues to colour Mark's priorities including: creating HARS scholarships in collaboration with the Schemes Academic Lead; producing a set of RAISE SIG 'what works' proposals to narrow the BME attainment gap; establishing a staff-led development programme for Advanced Personal Tuition.