Talking Teaching & Scholarship Podcast

In this episode, Dr Kathy Charles is in conversation with Pete Maggs Director of Libraries and Learning Resources where he discusses his journey to NTU, highlighting values-driven leadership, communication, and diverse experience. He emphasises libraries as central, supportive spaces impacting student success. His leadership focuses on empowering teams, adaptability, and continuous learning, shaped by challenges like COVID-19. He advocates openness, innovation, and creating conditions for others to lead and thrive.

In this episode, Dr Kathy Charles is in conversation with Melanie Currie, Deputy Dean of the Nottingham Business School at NTU, about her 25‑year journey at NTU, from hourly paid lecturer to senior leader. Melanie reflects on leadership shaped by problem‑solving, technology, and people, highlighting projects like ACE (Assessing Class Engagement) to boost student engagement. She emphasises values‑led, collaborative leadership, continuous improvement, nurturing others’ potential, and creating inclusive, engaging educational communities.

In this episode, Dr Kathy Charles is in conversation with Dr Kevin Love, Deputy Dean of Social Sciences at NTU, about his academic journey from natural sciences to philosophy and how this shapes his leadership. Kevin reflects on using questioning, critical analysis, and relational thinking in leading large‑scale projects such as semesterisation across his School. He emphasises planning, collaboration, trust in colleagues’ expertise, and understanding leadership as part of a wider ecosystem. Kevin discusses responsibility, reflection, and the importance of people, joy, and collective path‑finding in leadership and advises aspiring leaders to get involved, understand their influence, and remember it’s ultimately about serving the wider good.

In this episode of Talking Teaching and Scholarship Kathy Charles is in conversation with Victoria Fanning, NTU’s Academic Registrar. Victoria reflects on her 22‑year career journey from course administration to leading major university‑wide projects and processes. She discusses her love of administration, data, and problem‑solving, and highlights key projects such as improving timetabling and creating NTU’s relaxed graduation experience. Victoria shares insights on transitioning into leadership, the importance of collaboration, inclusion, and learning from challenges. Her leadership philosophy centres on authenticity, flexibility, and trying even if it means failing.

In this episode of Talking Teaching and Scholarship, Kathy Charles speaks with Dr. Angelo Pernetta, Deputy Dean at NTU’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences. Angelo shares how his background in conservation ecology shapes his leadership approach, viewing universities as ecosystems. He discusses driving impactful change in assessment and feedback, fostering inclusive leadership, and encouraging colleagues to embrace opportunities. A must-listen for anyone interested in educational leadership and student experience!

In this final episode, Kathy talks to Matthew Homewood about teaching and scholarship. Matthew is an Associate Professor and Deputy Dean of the Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University. Matthew discusses his unexpected path from horticulture to European Law, and his enthusiasm for educational technology including using animations and Twitter (in its pre-X days) to hone student understanding of all things EU. Matthew also shares his advice to anyone just starting out in their teaching career as well as those who might be considering the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship Scheme which he was awarded in 2016 for his work at NTU.

In this episode, Kathy talks to Dr Sarah Broadberry about teaching and scholarship. Sarah is an Associate Professor of Teaching & Scholarship and is the Academic Practice Manager in the Centre for Academic Development & Quality (CADQ).

Sarah has over 20 years' experience as an Academic and talks passionately about her love of teaching, being in front of students and how using Team Based Learning changed how she taught. Sarah also shares her excitement for this year's TILT Annual Learning & Teaching Conference, which will focus on what the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) means for us.

In this episode, Kathy talks to Dr Nicholas Midgley about teaching and scholarship. Nick is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography with just over 20 years at NTU.

Nick’s work has taken him from Svalbard in the Northern Hemisphere to the Falklands in the Southern Hemisphere, he talks passionately about the importance of taking his students out of the classroom and into the field where they can experience and research why certain environmental effects such as flooding in Spain happen.

He also tells us why a lobster pot tag is used as a way to determine the impact of plastics in our oceans.