Outstanding Academic Honoured with National Teaching Fellowship

12th June 2015

A law teacher from the University of Sheffield has been honoured with the most prestigious award for excellence in higher education.

Claire McGourlay, Professor of Legal Education at the University's School of Law, is one of 55 academics from across the UK to be chosen by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) to receive a National Teaching Fellowship. More than 180 academics were nominated for the highly acclaimed fellowship by higher education institutions across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Successful nominees were backed by their institutions for their individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence and developing excellence. Professor McGourlay joined the University of Sheffield's School of Law in 2002 after completing her PhD in Sheffield. She became a Senior Lecturer in 2008 and was the first person in the Faculty of Social Science to become a Professor of Student Education. As well as her inspirational teaching, Professor McGourlay manages the University's student-led Miscarriages of Justice Review Centre, which provides Sheffield law students with the opportunity to investigate cases of convicted people maintaining their innocence, who have exhausted the initial appeals process. She also co-manages the FreeLaw Legal Clinic which covers most areas of law from contractual disputes to housing and employment. -I was absolutely thrilled to find out about the Fellowship, I was actually putting petrol in the car in Wales at the time and I was jumping around the forecourt hugging my husband, said Professor McGourlay. -The news has not really sunk in yet and I feel very honoured and privileged to get one. I love teaching and most of all engaging and working with students as partners. She added: -Studying law is a fascinating subject but it can sometimes be frustrating! -The law is interesting and changing all the time and it impacts on people's lives in so many ways. I love teaching about it and seeing students develop and become very enthused about certain topics. I would not change what I do, I love it.  Professor McGourlay has been recognised with a number of awards including being shortlisted for the Oxford University Law Teacher of the Year in 2013. She has been praised for always displaying an active interest in developing new approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn whilst nurturing a passionate interest in law. The National Teaching Fellowship scheme is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland. Professor Stephanie Marshall, Chief Executive of the HEA, said: -The national Teaching Fellowship Scheme celebrates outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education. -Each year when I read about our new National Teaching Fellows what stands out for me is the comments made by their students, who describe them as innovative, engaging, entertaining, genuine, and passionate about teaching. This year is no exception. Professor McGourlay will be formally presented with the award at a celebration event held at Liverpool Cathedral in October.

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