Teaching excellence at the Library

Library Learning Development Manager recognised for contribution to teaching excellence at Manchester

The Library’s Learning Development Manager Jennie Blake has been recognised for her outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession by being named as a National Teaching Fellow.

The National Teaching Fellowships Scheme is the country’s most prestigious awards for teaching and learning excellence. They are given out annually by Advance HE – a national body whose purpose is to advance the professional practice of higher education to improve outcomes for the benefit of students, staff and society.

Taking one of just two awards given to the University this year, Jennie is responsible for creating the University’s award-winning ‘My Learning Essentials’. This is a skills support programme that is internationally recognised as an example of best practice. Featuring online resources, workshops and training for students it covers a wide range of subjects relevant to learning at Manchester, from revising and assignments to self-awareness and wellbeing.The programme is also widely used outside of the University with people accessing it all over the world. This has even included people accessing pages via links posted on the Whitehouse.gov domain.

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Jennie has brought phenomenal energy and positivity to a programme of work that is actively disrupting traditional thinking about teaching approaches in our schools.

Professor Clive Agnew, Vice-President of Teaching, Learning and Students at The University of Manchester

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Jan Wilkinson, who recently retired as University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library, said:

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The NTF is fitting recognition for Jennie's exemplary, innovative and transformational approach to teaching. She synthesises research and best practice, and her thoughtful challenging leadership, treatment of students as partners, and development of a strong effective network, has changed the paradigm of libraries, skills support and blended learning forever.

Jan Wilkinson, formerly University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library

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