Professor Mike Clements

National Teaching Fellow 2009 Mike Clements was educated at Coventry University and the University of Salford before later entering higher education as a Lecturer 1 in Marketing. Awarded a University Learning and Teaching Fellowship in 2001, he is now Professor of Enterprise Education and Enterprise Director in the Enterprise and Commercial Development Department at Staffordshire University, where he holds the portfolio for developing across-Faculty enterprise curriculum as part of the University's employability agenda. From 1998 he has been involved in virtual learning environments (VLE), first Lotus LearningSpace, then Blackboard and WebCT, whilst dabbling also with Moodle and other Open Source Platforms. This engagement with VLEs has resulted in well over 100 electronic modules for use in both the UK and overseas. Reflecting his interest in widening participation and access to higher education learning, Mike has worked with the Learning Skills Council, Regional Development Agencies and LearnDirect to design and deliver appropriate business related modules to non-traditional learners working in small and medium sized enterprises. Learner feedback has been most positive: "I've finally found a way of learning that is tailored around me" (LearnDirect student). In demand to contribute to conferences and publishing, his work is recognised internationally: "Dr Clements' work on curriculum development and pedagogic practice demonstrates an outstanding record as teacher, developer and leader in the field of enterprise education (University of Maastricht), yet he stills loves to return to his roots to take a class of undergraduates. Much of Mike's work now involves collaboration with other HEIs in the West Midlands on European Union projects, in particular Birmingham University where he works with colleagues engaged in research into entrepreneurial attributes. He feels honoured to be so recognised by colleagues for his 'can do' attitude to challenges and to change: "He has been a pathfinder in the field of innovative learning methodologies with particular reference to e-learning. In this regard he is head and shoulders above other practitioners in the region". (University of Warwick).