معرفی
Jill Cowley is Pro Vice Chancellor (Skills and Training) and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities at De Montfort University (DMU), where she has been a key academic leader since 2007. She holds a leadership role on the University Leadership Board, overseeing strategic planning, quality assurance, and institutional governance. Her academic base is the School of Humanities and Performing Arts, where she contributes to teaching, research, and program development.
Education:
- BA (Hons) in Performing Arts: Dance, Lancaster University – First Class
- MPhil in Dance Studies and Public Health, Lancaster University
- PGCE (pcet), Canterbury Christ Church University
Jill Cowley’s research and expertise focus on collaborative and intermedial practices in performance-making, dance pedagogy, and the role of the arts in personal development and wellbeing. Her work explores how collaborative processes enhance learning and creativity in higher education, particularly in dance and performing arts contexts. She has a strong interest in lifelong learning, higher technical education, and policy development, notably through her government commission on the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. Her research bridges academic scholarship and real-world application in community and educational settings.
Her recent publications and creative outputs reflect a sustained engagement with collaborative choreography, audience participation, and pedagogical innovation. The works span refereed conference papers, journal articles, and practice-based outputs such as DVDs and public performances. Themes across these outputs include coping strategies in collaborative making, assessment of group work, and the integration of dance in broader societal contexts such as dementia care and cultural strategy.
Scientific Awards and Recognition:
- Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher Award, June 2012
- DMU Teacher Fellow, August 2016
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Jill Cowley has supervised and mentored numerous students and early-career academics, though specific names are not listed. She has secured internal research funding for projects on collaborative practices and choreographic methods. Her leadership extends to advising on degree validations, serving as an external examiner for dance programs at multiple institutions, and contributing to national and international educational policy. She is actively involved in grants and consultancy, including work with Leicester City Council on cultural strategy and the Open University on program validation.
She is affiliated with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Dance and has led initiatives such as the Collaborative Practices research project. She also contributes to public engagement through performances like the Quick Shifts series and participation in forums such as the Belt and Road Forum. Her leadership in academic governance and strategic development underscores her role as a key figure in both institutional and disciplinary advancement.
