Leeds Beckett academic given prestigious award for outstanding contribution to excellent teaching

Bill Davies, who is a senior lecturer in Criminology in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, has been selected for a National Teaching Fellowship and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) by Advance HE.

The award celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education.

Bill has developed, and now leads, innovative and life-changing educational projects with high-security prisons. Since 2016, he has taught and supported over 40 prisoners in the gaining of university credits, with 25% of those continuing their higher education journey by enrolling on degree courses. He has also helped recently released prisoners in entering undergraduate degrees.

Bill's PhD examined the lived experiences of short-sentenced prisoners, identifying that by imprisoning people for short periods of time we are depriving those people of opportunities to better their lives.

In 2017, Bill won a national teaching award for his work within prisons, being honoured by the Worshipful Company of Educators as Inspirational Teacher of the Year.

Bill co-leads the Digital Pedagogy strand at the Centre for Research and Teaching in Higher Education at Leeds Beckett University. His role involves promoting and supporting the use of digital teaching methods in the curriculum. He is also working with HMP Full Sutton to deliver higher education in a digital less environment.

Alison Johns, Chief Executive of Advance HE, said: "I am delighted to announce this year's winners of the National Teaching Fellowship and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence. We are extremely proud of the way these teams and individuals enhance the quality of teaching in higher educations.

"We know that higher education has the power to transform lives, but this doesn't happen by default. Outstanding teaching is the result of knowledge, commitment, passion, energy and creativity. All of these 2024 winners demonstrate these attributes and put them into practice with excellent results."

Find out more about studying Criminology at Leeds Beckett University.