Professor Lucy Spowart

I currently lead both the Masters and PGCert in Clinical Education (online and face-to-face pathways) and have worked in the higher education (HE) sector in a variety of roles since 1995. 

After graduating and teaching in secondary schools and in an FE College, I began my HE career as a lecturer in physical education and sport development/sport management. I previously worked as a Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University, Perth, and at the University of St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth, where I gained a significant amount of experience in work-based learning and inclusive teaching, learning and assessment. I took a 3 year break from work in 2007-2010 to complete my PhD at Otago University, New Zealand with a full scholarship to do so. I combined my interests in motherhood, sport participation and qualitative methodologies to undertake a qualitative study of snowboarding mothers who were travelling winter to winter to snowboard and compete whilst also juggling childcare.

In 2012 I initiated, developed and championed the professional recognition scheme (The Teaching Development Framework) at Plymouth and advised other institutions on establishing teaching recognition schemes, promoting participation at every opportunity. I am concerned that the professional recognition process has a direct bearing on learning and teaching, inspiring my ongoing research that focuses on the impact for the sector. More recently, my research interests have focused on the professionalization and enhancement of teaching in higher education and the continuing professional development of the healthcare workforce. My work in this area has had international impact and as a result I was awarded Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2018 and a National Teaching Fellowship in 2020. In 2021 I appointed as a member of Advance HE’s Expert Advisory Group for Fellowships and accreditation. This group is currently involved in advising Advance HE in advance of their review of the Professional Standards Framework.

I am also committed to promoting the interests of marginalised groups and currently Co-Chair the university’s Women’s Network.

I would be very keen to hear from prospective PhD students who are interested in researching any aspect of teaching, learning and assessment in higher education or within the healthcare workforce. 

Qualifications

PhD Sports Sociology (Motherhood and Physical Activity and Health) - Title: 'Snowboarding Mums Carve out Fresh Tracks: Collective Stories from the Mountains of Aotearoa/New Zealand'

Professional membership

• Member of the Association of National Teaching Fellows
• Member of the Association of Medical Education
• Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators
• Member of the Society for Research in Higher Education
• Member of the South West Educational Developers Forum

Roles on external bodies

Teaching interests

My teaching interests and specialisms are:

• Teacher education
• Assessment and Feedback
• Authentic Learning
• Peer Mentoring/Peer Assessment
• Student Support

PhD students: 

Sally Hanks: Deconstructing, contextualising and assessing management and leadership qualities in dental professionals: an ethnographic study of principles in practice. Completed 2020

External Examining:

2020 Durham University - EdD External examiner

Staff serving as external examiners

External Examiner Portsmouth APEX Programme 2020- current

Research interests

Recent Awards and Project Involvement

• 2021 Principal Investigator 'Exploring the impact of Principal Fellowship on the individual and the institutional enhancement of teaching and learning (£15,000)
• 2020 Principal Investigator Advance HE project: 'Accreditation Impact Evaluation' (£60,000)
• 2017-19 Principal Investigator 'A cross institutional study examining the impact of Clinical Education Programmes at 4 UK Institutions' (£6500)
• 2016/17 Principal Investigator on a project entitled: 'A cross-institutional comparison of staff experiences of gaining HEA recognition through in-house Professional Frameworks (£8128)
• 2015 Principal Investigator on a PedRio funded project entitled: 'Largely invisible: Lone parents’ experiences of Higher Education at Plymouth University' (£8284.10)
• 2014 Member of the project team on the HEA National Project 'Evaluating teaching development in H.E:towards impact assessment' (£100,000)
• 2013 Principal Investigator on a project exploring staff engagement with the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching in H.E (£6,800)
• 2011 Steering Group member for Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) COLLABORATE project : working with employers and students to design assessment enhanced by the use of digital technologies (£240,000)
• 2011 Co-researcher on a collaborative project with the University of Otago exploring the experiences of Postgraduate students involved in a peer mentoring project
• 2011-12 Principal investigator on a project exploring the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to community engagement within Sports Programmes at the University College St. Mark and St. John.
• 2010 Research Assistant on a project exploring girls experiences of Physical Education at Secondary Schools in New Zealand 
• 2008-2010 University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship ($40,000NZ)
• 2007: University of Otago Research Grant for $5000NZ to investigate the newly established Surfing Mums Group in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga using qualitative research methods.
• 2007-2008 University of Otago Division of Science Award ($7,500NZ)
• 2006 Successfully wrote a $250,000NZ bid to Sport and Recreation New Zealand to fund the appointment of an ‘Active Schools Co-ordinator’ in the Waitakere region of Auckland.

PhD Supervision:

Co-Supervisor: Sally Hanks: Deconstructing, contextualising and assessing management and leadership qualities in dental professionals: an ethnographic study of principles in practice. Completed 2020

Conferences organised

2005: Organised and ran a Nationwide Conference for Sport Development staff across New Zealand. Attended by staff from all 17 Regional Sports Trusts.

Additional information

I enjoy triathlon and multisport events. I completed Speights Coast to Coast World Multi-sport event February 2010. I was also a bronze medallist in the World Long Course Triathlon Age-Group Championships, Perth, Australia, 2009. I have completed several Ironman and Long Distance triathlons, and placed third in my age-group at Challenge Wanaka long-distance triathlon, New Zealand 2017. I am also a Level 3 Triathlon Coach and Head Coach at Plymouth Triathlon Club.