News

Durham University lecturer wins award for teaching

(19 June 2003)

Dr Barbara Graziosi, Lecturer in the Classics and Ancient History Department of Durham University, has won a National Teaching Fellowship award worth £50,000 in recognition of her excellence in teaching.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) recognises and rewards lecturers or learning support staff in higher education for their excellence in teaching. Each award is worth £50,000 to be used for projects that will make a significant contribution to learning and teaching. Dr Graziosi is one of 20 winners who were chosen from 81 nominations from higher education institutions across England and Northern Ireland.

Dr Graziosi, who joined Durham as a Lecturer in 2001, was nominated by the University after she had already won an internal excellence in teaching award. She said: “This is the first time that a National Teaching Fellowship has been awarded to a classicist. I think it is a sign of recognition for the hard work we have done in broadening participation. The funds from the award will be used to set up workshops and study weekends for students and the wider community. As classicists we profit immensely from the contribution of people from a wide variety of backgrounds: they open new perspectives on the ancient world.”

Dr Graziosi’s award is the only one to be given to a lecturer at a North-East university. The judges made their choice based on the candidates’ ability to influence and inspire their students, to inspire their colleagues in their own teaching, to demonstrate a reflective approach to teaching and the support of learning, and to influence the teaching profession as a whole. The panel of judges also considered the quality and relevance of the projected use of funds to develop the winners’ areas of expertise.

Sir Kenneth Calman, Vice-Chancellor: said: “This is a wonderful award for Dr Graziosi, the Department and the University. It confirms the high quality of our teaching. I am particularly delighted that a member of Durham’s staff has again won one of these special fellowships.”

The winners will receive their awards from Alan Johnson MP, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, at a gala event in London on 15 July.

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Notes to Editors:

1. Dr Pam Knights from the Department of English Studies at the University won a National Teaching Fellowship award last year.
2. The NTFS is managed by the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE) on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland, who fund the Scheme.

Further information:

Dr Barbara Graziosi, Classics and Ancient History, Tel: 0191 334 1677
www.dur.ac.uk/barbara.graziosi/

Keith Seacroft, Head of Public Relations, Tel: 0191 334 6074