Prestigious National Teaching Fellowship award for Dr Sue Jones 

The originator of Bioscience courses at York St John University has been recognised for her inspirational work.

York St John University is welcoming the news that Dr Sue Jones is among the winners of the 2022 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, awarded by Advance HE.  

Advance HE has announced 54 new National Teaching Fellows and 16 teams who win the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence.    

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates and recognises individuals who have had an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education. The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) recognises and rewards collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning and highlights the key role of teamwork in higher education. Sue was also part of a successful CATE award submission in 2021.    

Dr Jones joined York St John University in 2014 with the remit to create, establish and develop the University’s first biology-based STEM programme. Since then, the programme that she designed has flourished and been highly successful under her dedicated leadership. Consecutive NSS student satisfaction scores annually have placed Biomedical Science at York St John University in the top 7 programmes nationally for the subject area.  

As not only the first in her family to attend university, but in fact the first in her entire street to attend university, she is passionate about improving access to education and the benefits it can bring.   

Dr Sue Jones said: “My commitment to transforming the lives of others was central to my bold and unconventional move to pivot from laboratory-based researcher to teaching-focused academic, over 15 years ago.    

“This fundamental shift in my career was underpinned by my desire to make a bigger difference. By working directly with thousands of students as a programme leader and with the professional body (Institute of Biomedical Science) I could increase their confidence, develop their skills and positively impact on their social mobility.     

“For the past twenty years, my goal has been to stimulate students’ curiosity, inspire them to discover more and provide opportunities that allow them to take ownership of their learning.     

“I am absolutely focused on enabling non-traditional students to engage with education, successfully transition to university life, supporting retention, increasing social capital and achieving successful graduate outcomes.”   

Professor Karen Bryan OBE, Vice Chancellor of York St John University said: “We are very pleased and proud to have supported Sue through this successful National Teaching Fellowship. Her work speaks to the University’s core values of promoting fairness and challenge prejudice, inspiring each other to succeed and being intellectually generous, curious and rigorous.    

“The award highlights her excellent work and passion to go above and beyond her normal academic role and provide exceptional and inspirational learning experiences. Congratulations Sue.”   

Sue continues to disseminate her innovative and student-centred approaches nationally and internationally as the Executive Head of Education at the Institute of Biomedical Science. She is also collaborating with colleagues at York St John University and through this NTF award is planning an exciting three-year project to boost student opportunities.