Alison Halstead holds a physics undergraduate degree and materials engineering PhD from Imperial College as well as a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning in higher education. Her early career was in industry, as a research engineer with Tube Investments before moving to Brunel University, Coventry University, the Open University and returning to Coventry in 1993 to become Head of Physics and Materials.
In 2002 she became Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University of Wolverhampton, where she was responsible for the strategic development of the academic courses, quality and the student experience. Through successful income generation she enabled staff to develop and implement a range of innovative technologies within schools and colleges as well as the University. She gained the University of Wolverhampton a £4.5 million Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning which she led for two years before taking up her current post as the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching Innovation at Aston University.
At Aston, Alison is responsible for the quality and standard of academic programmes, the development and enhancement of the student experience, learning and teaching research and widening participation. Since taking up the post she has established a new Centre for Learning, Innovation and Professional Practice and a Learning and Teaching Research Group. Regionally, she is an active participant in the implementation of the Engineering Diploma, a governor for two Technology Schools and is currently leading the development of the ‘Aston University Engineering Academy’ - a 14-19 School which is to be built next to the University on the Aston Science Park by 2012. This will be one of the UK’s first University Technical Colleges.
Her research interest is on the application of thinking styles to personal and professional development, embedding of new technologies into the curriculum and the development and delivery of the engineering diploma. Her publications include course text books, learning materials and video and TV productions with the Open University, journal and conference publications as well as international keynotes in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, China, USA, Malaysia and Jordan. As a former quality assessor she is committed to the enhancement agenda and has been involved in several national learning and teaching projects. In 2005 she received a National Teaching Fellowship for her innovative curriculum development and academic leadership and in 2008 she became one of the first Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. She is an elected fellow on the Academic Council of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Foundation Degree Forward Board, a Board member of OCN West Midlands and the Director of the Aston University Engineering Academy Board Trust.
Contact information
A.Halstead@aston.ac.uk
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