Alison Holmes
Alison came to us from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch in New Zealand, where she is the Director of the University Centre for Teaching and Learning. Her focus is on raising the profile of teaching and learning in the research intensive University and promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in French and German (Salford, England), Alison trained as a general practice surveyor. She first became involved with the world of higher education teaching property surveying at Ulster Polytechnic in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1992, she went on to Newcastle Polytechnic to teach property management, facilities management, and valuation to students at all levels, as well as supervising postgraduate students, and held many administrative posts including chairing the department’s teaching and learning committee. Her academic interests then moved from property to teaching and understanding how students learn, and the impact that teachers can have on that process.
In 2001, Alison joined the National Co-ordination Team based at the Open University where she spent three years supporting educational development projects across the UK. In 2003, she spent a short period at the University of Derby as Quality Enhancement Manager, running the academic staff development functions, before joining the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.