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Lecturer Mel Brown honoured with National Teaching Fellowship
Monday, 11 August, 2025 — Arts University Plymouth’s Mel Brown awarded National Teaching Fellowship for 25 years of creative pedagogy leadership.
One of only 61 academics across the UK to receive the honour in 2025, Arts University Plymouth’s Assistant Dean and Principal Lecturer in Design, Mel Brown, has been named a National Teaching Fellow by Advance HE, the UK’s most prestigious award for teaching excellence.
<p>Mel is celebrated for championing a “critically curious pedagogy” that explores how harnessing the potential of curiosity, play, and imagination can be a means to approach and conceptualise global challenges. With more than 25 years’ teaching experience, she supports pedagogical innovation across Design subjects and convenes the University’s Making Learning research group.</p>
Working towards the National Teaching Fellowship has been hard work, so to be receiving the award and recognition is both a relief and an incredible honour. Curiosity and play sit at the heart of my teaching, and I’m thrilled that this approach resonates beyond our studios. This achievement belongs equally to my students and colleagues at Arts University Plymouth who embrace education as a force for positive change.
Mel Brown, Assistant Dean and Principal Lecturer in Design at Arts University Plymouth
Mel Brown
<p>The <strong>National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS)</strong> recognises individuals who transform student outcomes and champion innovation across higher education. This year’s larger‑than‑ever cohort reflects a thriving community of educators committed to people‑centred, curiosity‑driven learning, values that sit at the core of Arts University Plymouth’s mission to nurture creative confidence.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since joining Arts University Plymouth in 2004, Mel has shaped the University’s creative‑learning culture through:</p><ul><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Leading the development and growth of BA (Hons) Illustration between 2008-2019</strong>, delivering a high quality HE learning experience on what became one of the University’s most successful and consistently popular courses.</p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Pioneering playful illustration pedagogy approaches</strong>, presenting research through national and international conference presentations and journal articles.</p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Initiating the Global Challenges Awards</strong>, celebrating undergraduate student achievements as empathic designers, communicators and creatives.</p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Guiding colleagues in delivery and review of the Common Unit Framework</strong>, a cross‑university curriculum that embeds curiosity‑driven learning across all Arts University Plymouth’s undergraduate courses.</p></li></ul>
That Little Jackdaw by Mel Brown
<p dir="ltr">“Mel’s fellowship is a testament to the transformative power of creative education at Arts University Plymouth. Her research‑led, playful approach equips students with the confidence and compassion to thrive in a rapidly changing world, and we could not be prouder. Mel brings empathy and kindness into the realm of learning and teaching, embracing a positive culture of shared endeavour and joy.” — <strong>Professor Paul Fieldsend‑Danks</strong>, Vice‑Chancellor & Chief Executive, Arts University Plymouth</p>
<p dir="ltr">“These newly awarded National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams represent the very best of UK higher education, demonstrating remarkable innovation, dedication and impact on student learning.” — <strong>Kathryn Harrison‑Graves</strong>, Deputy Chief Executive, Advance HE<br /></p>
<p>The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS), run by Advance HE, is the UK’s most prestigious award for teaching excellence in higher education. It recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.</p>
<p>Mel was honoured for pioneering a “critically curious pedagogy” that uses curiosity, play, and imagination to tackle global challenges. With over 25 years’ teaching experience, she has influenced course design, championed student creativity, and fostered innovation across Arts University Plymouth.</p>
<p>Mel is Assistant Dean and Principal Lecturer in Design, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate learning across Design subjects. She also convenes the university’s Making Learning research group.</p>
<p>Her work has shaped high-performing courses like BA (Hons) Illustration, created opportunities such as the Global Challenges Awards, and embedded curiosity-driven learning across the curriculum — empowering students to develop as confident, compassionate creatives.</p>
<p>Arts University Plymouth is the UK’s newest specialist arts university, named <em>University of the Year for South West England</em> at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards in both 2024 and 2025, and ranked #2 in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education 2024). It offers world-class facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a focus on creativity for a changing world.</p>
<p>If you haven’t yet applied to university or want to change your plans, you can secure a place at Arts University Plymouth through Clearing. Call our Clearing hotline on <strong>+44 (0)1752 203402</strong> or visit <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/clearing">aup.ac.uk/clearing</a> to explore available courses and get advice from our friendly Admissions team.</p>
