Academic Practice Directorate

The Academic Practice Directorate (APD) supports colleagues and students in the design, delivery and recognition of outstanding programmes and outstanding academic practice.

Our specialist team is here to support any academic development activity related to teaching, learning and assessment, to facilitate and promote an institutional culture of ongoing enhancement.

UWE Bristol students at graduation.

Activities and services

Our work includes:

  • working directly with programme teams on the development and enhancement of their curricula and teaching practices
  • providing individuals and groups with support and mentoring for internal and external recognition awards (eg HEA Fellowships, National Teaching Fellowships, Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence)
  • promoting and facilitating educational enquiry, evaluation and development, through internal seed-corn funding awards, and supporting and partnering colleagues in the pursuit of external funding
  • bringing staff, students and external partners together to exchange ideas and share expertise and experience through institution-wide events, such as the annual Festival of Learning and bespoke team-based development workshops
  • working in partnership with experienced colleagues from across the University, we offer a range of Advance HE accredited programmes for achieving fellowship recognition, and specialist continuous professional development opportunities
  • supporting a range of development and recognition opportunities throughout the learning and teaching career journey from Student Partners to Professors. Opportunities such as Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education programme, Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Professional Practice (PGCAPP), Programme and Module Leader Development programme. 

Read more about our offer on the staff intranet (login required) and access our resources through the Education Essentials pages. If you have any suggestions or queries please email us at AcademicPractice@uwe.ac.uk.

Meet the team

Susi Peacock
PFHEA, PhD, PGCert, MSc, BA(Hons)
Deputy Director and Head of Digital Education

Professor Helen King
NTF, PFHEA, SFSEDA, PhD, BSc(Joint Hons), PGCert
Deputy Director of Academic Practice and Head of Academic Development

Petia Petrova
SFHEA, PhD, MSc, BA(Hons), PGCert
Associate Director of Academic Practice

Laura Bennett
SFHEA, PhD, MA, BA(Hons), PGCert
Associate Director of Academic Practice

Paul Redford
SFHEA, DPhil, MSc, BA(Hons), CPsychol
Associate Director of Academic Practice

Shaun Mudd
FHEA, PhD, MA, PCAP, BA(Hons)
Senior Lecturer in Academic Practice

Rebecca Ward
BSc(Hons), Dip
CPD Recognition and Framework Manager

Russell Brookes
BA(Hons), MA, PGCHE, CMALT
Senior Digital Education Advisor

Jenny Narborough
FHEA, PGCertHE, BSc(Hons)
Senior Learning Technologist (Interim)

James Brennan
BA(Hons), AinstAM
Senior Administrator and Project Coordinator

Julia Denman
BA(Hons), CDMP
Administrative Assistant

Louise Mighall
LLB(Hons)
Administrative Assistant

Lauren Rubery
BA(Hons), PGDip
Administrative Assistant

Amber Huckle
MA, BA(Hons)
Administrative Assistant

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Departments and services

Find out about more about our academic departments and schools within our four faculties.

Festival of Learning

The Academic Practice Directorate hosts the popular annual Festival of Learning event. Spread over four days in June, the Festival provides colleagues with an opportunity to share good practice and hear from keynote speakers across the sector.

Learning and Teaching at UWE Bristol

Our focus is to provide an outstanding student experience and to ensure our students have access to all the information and learning support they need.

HEA Fellowship (login required)

The UWECPD HEA Fellowships Scheme recognises those at UWE Bristol who have contributed to student learning experiences by awarding them with Higher Education Academy (HEA) fellowships.