Meet the team

In October 2018 Scott joined the Learning and Teaching Academy as ‘Digital and Open Education Lead’, having previously worked in the Educational Development Unit. Scott leads and supports the development and delivery of professional development opportunities and professional development events aimed at supporting staff in making effective use of institutional technologies and platforms in blended and online delivery.

Scott also leads and supports Open Education across the institution, promoting open educational practice (OEP) and the use, creation and sharing of open educational resources (OER). This involves working with and advising colleagues on the development and embedding of digital education practice in learning and teaching, and curriculum design and delivery, in line with institutional priorities and strategies. Scott lead on the creation of the ‘Framework for the development of open educational practices’ in line with the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Strategy (LTES).

More recently scott has taken up a lead role in the university's Learning Analytics project.

Scott is an advocate of lifelong learning and has an interest in the pedagogies emerging from advances in technology. Scott holds post-graduate degrees in the fields of Social Sciences, Psychology and Criminology. Scott is currently studying towards an MEd in Digital Pedagogy and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

Heather’s expertise is in the field of research and data analysis. She is responsible for the university’s module evaluation surveys and involved in the analysis of the university’s National Student Survey results and other student data. Heather is an advocate for an evidence-based approach to learning and teaching, and can help with: analyses of student data; running focus groups; evaluation of teaching practices, quality enhancement initiatives etc.; using published research to enhance teaching.

Heather oversees the following aspects of the LTA's work:

• Scholarship Development
• LTA Scholarship Fund
• QAA Enhancement Theme
• Good Practice case studies
• LTA Connect webinars

Contact Heather via heather.fotheringham@uhi.ac.uk or 01463 279237

Keith Smyth is Professor of Pedagogy at the university, and leads the Learning and Teaching Academy. Keith works with colleagues across the university on strategic learning and teaching developments, educational enhancement initiatives and projects, and supporting staff to engage in educational research and scholarship. Much of this work is taken forward through the activities of the Learning and Teaching Academy.

Keith has particular interests in co-creative pedagogies and curriculum models, open education, technology-enhanced learning, educational strategy and policy, and developing pedagogic research and scholarship. He has written and presented widely in these areas, and has undertaken funded projects for organisations including the Higher Education Academy, JISC, Scottish Funding Council and NHS. Keith is also the current Vice-Chair of the Association for Learning Technology.

Contact Keith via keith.smyth@uhi.ac.uk or 01463 279471

Joining in May 2020, in the new post of Information and Communications Assistant, Jane supports the team in the organisation, promotion and delivery of events, webinars, professional accreditation, scholarship development and staff development funding review panels. Jane also implements the maintenance of the LTA’s digital and social media presence and the marketing and communications activities of the LTA. Furthermore, Jane works on several other LTA outputs as and when they arise throughout the academic year whilst also supporting the general function of the LTA.

Jane achieved Associate Fellowship of the HEA in June 2022. 

Contact Jane via jane.steele@uhi.ac.uk

Alex's main responsibilities with the LTA include leading on professional development and recognition initiatives, including ALPINE (Accredited Learning, Professional Development and Innovation in Education) and the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFs) award and Collaborative Award in Teaching Excellence (CATE).

Alex also coordinators the University Mentoring Scheme which offers a range of mentoring opportunities for university colleagues through four distinct strands. As well as coordinating the scheme Alex is the lead for the Professional Recognition strand.

Alex also oversees the professional development events programme that the LTA offers, including ensuring the webinars/workshops/conferences/symposia covers a range of learning and teaching practice and is aligned to internal and external frameworks and/or strategy including the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Strategy Values and the UK Professional Standards.

Alex has worked supporting research, learning, and teaching in education since graduating with a BA Hons at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen in 2003. Alex has developed her knowledge in pedagogy through the completion of a MEd in Tertiary and Higher Education. Before starting at the university Alex worked as coordinator of the Centre of Academic Development at the University of Aberdeen. In September 2021 Alex achieved Principal Fellow of the HEA (PFHEA), and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and a Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology (CMALT).

Alex is interested in professional development and mentoring in dispersed contexts which utilises technology, and ensuring this is pedagogically driven and inclusive. Alex has presented and published in this area.

Contact Alex via alex.walker@uhi.ac.uk or 01463 279486 to discuss:

• Professional recognition routes
• Professional development and mentoring opportunities
• Presenting opportunities through the LTA events programme
• The University Women's Network

Debbie’s professional background at UHI lies with the Faculties and Academic Standards team. She works closely with academic staff, subject network leaders and the Deans of faculty by providing high-level administrative support for the faculties in undertaking their quality assurance responsibilities with programme and curriculum development.

On secondment, 2 days per week, to the Learning & Teaching Academy from September 2021 Debbie also covers:

• University’s staff development fund
• Advance HE Aurora Leadership Development Programme
• Learning and teaching enhancement strand of the mentoring scheme

Debbie is a Fellow of the HEA and continues to mentor others to gain accreditation via the Professional Recognition strand of the mentoring scheme. She is also one of the Advance HE Aurora Institutional Champions. 

Contact Debbie on debbie.wartnaby@uhi.ac.uk