Alan Marvell

Dr Alan Marvell is a Senior Lecturer and Lead for Learning and Teaching in the School of Business, Computing, and Social Sciences at the University of Gloucestershire. As a National Teaching Fellow, he specializes in tourism, events management, and geography education. He serves as Academic Course Leader for international programs in Malaysia and Vietnam, and holds professional recognition as a Chartered Geographer and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Alan earned his BA (Hons) in Geography and History from the College of St Paul and St Mary (1990), PGCE in Geography from the University of Southampton (1991), MA in Landscape and Society from Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education (1999), and PhD from the University of Gloucestershire (2016).

His research focuses on experiential pedagogies, emotional geographies, and student-led learning, particularly in international fieldwork contexts. His work explores how students develop a 'sense of place' through active engagement with locations like Barcelona, examining the emotional dimensions of fieldwork experiences and their impact on learning outcomes. He has made significant contributions to understanding how innovative teaching strategies can enhance students' emotional responses to place and improve their overall educational experience.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong thematic focus on emotional geographies in fieldwork education, with particular attention to student experiences in international settings. His work consistently examines how emotional responses to place can be leveraged to create more effective learning experiences, with a growing emphasis on sustainability, solidarity, and wellbeing in educational contexts.

• National Teaching Fellow (NTF), 2021
• Geographical Association Distinguished Service Award, 2020
• University of Gloucestershire Teaching Fellow, 2017
• University of Gloucestershire Learning for Sustainable Futures Award: Responsible Events, 2015

Alan supervises doctoral candidates and has previously led the Doctorate in Business Administration programme. He serves as Chair of the RGS-IBG Geography and Education Research Group and sits on the international Editorial Board for the Journal of Geography in Higher Education. He also acts as an external examiner for International Event Management at the University of Brighton. His community engagement includes being a founding member of the Gloucestershire Sustainability Champions and collaborating with local business groups to promote Gloucestershire as a visitor destination.

Alan's professional activities extend to knowledge exchange through editorial work, conference presentations, and collaborations with international institutions. His leadership in the Geography and Education Research Group demonstrates his commitment to advancing geographical education across all levels.