Dr Nigel Kettley awarded prestigious teaching prize

We are delighted to announce that Dr Nigel Kettley, ICE’s Academic Director for Education and Social Science, has been awarded a prestigious Pilkington Prize for his outstanding teaching.

The 24th annual Pilkington Prizes, which honour excellence in teaching across the University of Cambridge, were held at Gonville & Caius College on 22 June 2017.

Nigel was one of 13 inspirational academics to receive an award from Professor Graham Virgo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education.

The Pilkington Prizes were initiated by Sir Alastair Pilkington – graduate of Trinity College, engineer, businessman and the first Chairman of the Cambridge Foundation – who passionately believed that teaching excellence was crucial to Cambridge’s future success.

About Dr Nigel Kettley

Nigel has had a wide ranging teaching and research career in the fields of sociology, educational studies, research methods and teacher training. Before joining the Institute of Continuing Education in 2007, he was a Research Associate in the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, and earlier still an MPhil and then PhD student at Wolfson College.

Before returning to study in 1997, he was a lecturer in a Further Education college. He is an active researcher in the areas of widening participation, educational attainment and lifelong learning more generally with a particular focus on issues of gender, social stratification, educational practice and theory building.

Nigel teaches on a variety of courses for ICE, supervises MPhil and PhD students for the Faculty of Education, and established and now directs the MSt in Advanced Subject Teaching. He is also a Governing Body Fellow of Wolfson College and a member of the Faculty of Education.

Nigel's citation for the Pilkington Prize award describes him as "an exceptional adult educator, who holds and displays the values shared by the very best lifelong learning professionals. Nigel is fully committed to widening access to, and participation in, higher education by engaging students who have not previously studied at this level, successfully re-engaging students who have stepped away from education for extended periods and increasing the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills of diverse cohorts of students."

A highly engaged member of the ICE academic team, Nigel is a role model and dedicated supporter of continuing education. From advising potential applicants on course choice to his thoroughness in helping students prepare assessed work and comprehensive feedback when marking and moderating, Nigel consistently puts the needs of his students first, and guides them through every step of the student journey.

Congratulations, Nigel!