Centre for Excellence of Learning (CEL) Launched – 4th April 2014

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On Friday 4th April, approximately 90 academic, professional and administrative staff and students came together in Kimmeridge House to celebrate the formal launch of BU’s CEL. The Centre aims to be a hub of energy, enthusiasm and talent in pedagogy that makes a significant contribution to enhancing the student learning experience at BU, bringing together and joining up various relevant initiatives. As a result, several areas of activity were represented at the launch – the six CEL themes, the posters from the first two Education Excellence staff development programmes, information about education research at BU linking to the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice, the Teach@BU project (enabling academics to become fellows of the Higher Education Academy) and PGCert, Peer Assisted Learning, GROW@BU, Service Excellence and the SUBU You’re Brilliant Awards all played a role in the event as part of the CEL ‘family’ at BU.

Professor Gail Thomas, Director of CEL and Dean of HSC, highlighted a number of specific mechanisms by which CEL will raise the profile of scholarship in pedagogy including:

  • The aim for a REF submission to UoA 25 (education) in future and the adoption of an education research theme at BU in the near future
  • A new comprehensive academic development framework from PGCert, to PGDip, Masters and Educational Doctorate
  • Annual BU Learning &Teaching Fellowships of £2000 as a means to preparing people to apply for National Teaching Fellowships
  • An imminent call for fusion funded pedagogic and fair access projects of up to £5000
  • A new seminar series of external experts, innovators and inspired speakers
  • £250 logo competition for students to design an image/ graphic device for CEL
  • A physical home- room PG30a to be available in the heart of Talbot campus after Easter

The announcement of all of these initiatives was very well received by those attending. Should you be interested in engaging in any CEL activity or have good ideas about taking forward pedagogic innovation or research, please feel free to contact Professor Thomas or Chris Keenan, CEL theme coordinator, at thomasg@bournemouth.ac.uk / ckeenan@bournemouth.ac.uk