معرفی
Helena Gillespie is a Professor of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and Academic Director of Widening Participation at the University of East Anglia (UEA). She also holds the title of Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA). Previously, she served in university-wide roles including Academic Director of Learning and Teaching Enhancement and Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching, and Quality in the Faculty of Social Sciences. Her work bridges primary education experience (as a former teacher and school leader) with higher education, focusing on governance links between UEA and local schools through her governor roles and leadership of the university governors' network.
Her research emphasizes teaching methodologies in higher education, funded by HEFCE and the HEA. Key projects include work with UEA’s Aurora Network on widening participation in study abroad programs, and contributions to the Annual Conference of Diversity Abroad. She has authored/co-authored books on learning technologies, virtual learning environments, and future-proofing education through digital innovation.
Her publications span MOOCs’ impact, learning gain metrics, and assessment cultures. Notable outputs include analyses of disciplinary variations in university assessment practices and evaluations of BBC’s School Report project in teacher training. She has led projects funded by organizations like the Biochemical Society and Creative Skillset, focusing on digital education initiatives.
- Awards: PFHEA
- Media Engagement: Over 27 media appearances discussing educational recovery post-pandemic, including BBC broadcasts and national newspaper features.
- Grants & Partnerships: European Commission-funded Aurora Alliance project (2020–2023), Biochemical Society MOOC development (2016), and Creative Skillset scriptwriting training (2015–2019).
She coordinates UEA’s widening participation strategies, integrating multimodal approaches to outreach, and collaborates internationally on inclusive internationalization through conferences like the WES-CIHE Summer Institute.
