Overview
Profile summary
Associate Head of School: Education and Student Experience I am an education focused academic with an interest in bioscience and skills education research. In November 2023 I achieved the status of Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA). In Peninsula Medical School I lead teaching and learning in my role of Associate Head of School for Education and Student Experience. My background is in biochemistry. My current research is focused on how best to integrate transferable skills into the curriculum, across higher education. I also have a strong interest in EDI, particularly in how higher education institutions can make positive, tangible changes to culture regarding EDI. Externally I recently chaired a review of the QAA Biosciences Subject Benchmark Statement, which has now been published on the QAA website. Until the end of 2023, I chaired the Biochemical Society's Education, Training and Public Engagement committee. I am currently a member of the Royal Society of Biology Curriculum Committee and a Trustee of the Royal Society of Biology. I have a strong interest in gender equality, and am a panelist for Advance HE's Athena Swan charters. At Plymouth I chaired the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science Athena Swan self-assessment team (SAT) through a successful Silver Athena Swan application, awarded by Advance HE in March 2022. I currently co-chair the University Athena Swan SAT and led this team to a Silver institutional Athena Swan award, conferred in March 2024. You can see my publications in the tab below, or on my Orcid profile here: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2946-0441
Professional memberships
- Principal Fellow of Higher Education Academy (PFHEA)
- The Biochemical Society
- Royal Society of Biology
Roles on external bodies
- The Biochemical Society: Chair of Education, Training and Public Engagement Committee and Trustee (2018-2023)
- External Examiner: University of Surrey UK (2018-2022), University of Nottingham Malaysia (2020-), University of Nottingham UK (2021-), University College Cork Ireland (2022-)
- Chair of QAA Biosciences Benchmark Statement advisory group (2021-2023)
- Member of the Royal Society of Biology Curriculum Committee (2022-)
- Trustee of the Royal Society of Biology (2024-)
Teaching interests
As Associate Head of School for Education and Student Experience, I lead teaching and learning in the Medical School. I also teach students on various programmes within the Faculty of Health, including medicine, diagnostic radiography and physician associate. I teach students a variety of life science topics, including biochemistry, cell biology, physiology and genetics. Much of my teaching is in small or medium sized group sessions, and I am proactive in creating innovative and interactive sessions.
I hold a number of education related roles within the medical school, including:
I hold a number of education related roles within the medical school, including:
- EBL facilitator
- Academic tutor
- Pastoral tutor
- SSU provider
- Reflective portfolio assessor
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Meeting reports
Mello, L. V., Varga-Atkins, T., Voelkel, S., Watson, H. & Smith, D., 13 Jun 2024, In: Biochemist. p. bio_2024_134Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
‘Let's work together to pass medical school’: a qualitative study of medical student attitudes to teamwork, competition and collaboration
Watson, H. R., Millin, P., Close, J., Jeffery, R., Stephenson, H. & Zahra, D., 7 Nov 2024, In: FEBS Open Bio.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
A blended future? A cross‐sectional study demonstrating the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on student experiences of well‐being, teaching and learning
Chilton, J. K., Hanks, S. & Watson, H. R., 28 Jun 2023, In: European Journal of Dental Education. 0, 0Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile17 Downloads (Pure) -
Equality pledges: A novel approach to embedding EDI and promoting positive culture change in a UK university
Watson, H., Wisdom, H., Michael, C., Marshall, N. & Neve, H., 2 Jan 2023, In: Equity in Education and Society. 0, 0Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile32 Downloads (Pure) -
Exploring basic science knowledge retention within a cohort of undergraduate medical students in the United Kingdom: A longitudinal study
Zafar, I., Chilton, J., Edwards, J., Watson, H. & Zahra, D., 30 Dec 2023, In: The Clinical Teacher. 0, 0Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile42 Downloads (Pure)