Reading lecturers win for outstanding teaching

Two Reading professors have been recognised for their commitment to excellence in teaching and learning with a prestigious national award.

Professor Cindy Becker and Professor Allán Laville have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships by Advance HE.

The competitive scheme awards up to 55 National Teaching Fellowships each year, nationally. It celebrates and rewards outstanding individual impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.

National Teaching Fellows go on to play an important role in supporting the enhancement of learning and teaching within their own institutions, the higher education sector and further afield.

Cindy and Allán’s successes mean University of Reading has seen at least one of our lecturers recognised by a National Teaching Fellowship in 12 of the past 15 years, with a total of 22 fellowships awarded. Recipients represent a diverse range of disciplines and teaching focus.

Read more about our 2008-2022 National Teaching Fellows.

About our 2023 National Teaching Fellows

Professor Cindy Becker is Professor of Pedagogy in English Literature.

Her application to the scheme featured her work to engage students in their learning, enabling students from all backgrounds to succeed both at university and beyond.

Her innovative work on the Arts and Humanities Foundation Year has also seen the University welcome students from a wide range of circumstances, while her work on academic placements and the Professional Track in her school helped students to face the career marketplace with greater focus and confidence.

Cindy said: “I am thrilled to receive this award, and grateful to be part of a university that supports colleagues so well in the field of Teaching and Learning.

“This award feels like the culmination of many happy years working on a diverse and exciting range of teaching and learning projects at the University.”

Professor Allán Laville is Professor of Equity in Psychology and Dean for Diversity & Inclusion.

Allán is passionate about diversity and inclusion, taking strides towards embedding diversity and inclusion across psychological therapy training programmes.

In the classroom, Allán has developed sector-leading teaching on working with sexual diversity in psychotherapeutic care, and was recently invited to be national co-lead on the NHS England and LGBT Foundation LGBTQIA+ Positive Practice Guide. 

He also chairs the University’s Decolonising the Curriculum Working Group, which has produced sector-leading resources to support colleagues in decolonising their curricula.

Allán said: “I am delighted to have been selected by Advance HE as one of the 2023 National Teaching Fellows.  

“This prestigious award means a lot to me as it is a great to have your teaching and learning practice acknowledged at the highest level.

 “I am very grateful to all the colleagues who have supported me since I joined the University in 2011, particularly my excellent National Teaching Fellowship scheme mentors, Jane Setter and Jennie Chetcuti.”