Hilsdon J

Biography

I am Associate Professor and Head of Learning Support and Wellbeing at Plymouth University, responsible for the Counselling, Learning Development and Disability Assist teams. I am also a National Teaching Fellow. My work over the last decade has contributed to the academic and professional evolution of Learning Development as a distinct field of practice in Higher Education. I helped set up the UK network of learning developers, LDHEN, in 2002, and was the first Chair of the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (see www.aldinhe.ac.uk). I am also an editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education (www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs). As one of the 15 coordinators for the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, ‘LearnHigher’, I developed learning materials for academic writing (the ‘WrAssE’ project), and on the themes of critical thinking and reflection. I am co-editor of 'Learning Development in Higher Education' (Palgrave Macmillan). In the last five years I have been delivered keynotes and presentations at the University of Oxford; Chiba University, Japan; Bournemouth; Brighton; De Montfort; Sheffield; Hereford; and the University of Houston, Texas. I am currently working towards a doctorate in education and my research examines the significance of Learning Development in HE.

Research Interest

University of Lancaster: BA (Hon’s) Politics (Econ. Minor) 2(i), 1978 Bolton Institute of HE: Cert. Ed F/HE, 1983 Lancashire Education Authority: RSA Dip TEFL, 1985 University of Lancaster: MA Language Studies (Educational Linguistics) (Distinction), 1990 Iron Mill Institute, Exeter: Advanced Diploma in Counselling, 2000 Plymouth University, Professional Doctorate in Education (ongoing)