Gary has worked in Higher Education for the past 3 years and is passionate about education and empowering learners with their personal and social development. Gary currently teaches on the FdA Health and Social Care and Top-up degree courses. In addition to this, he has also taught on BSc Hons in Community Studies with Health at University Campus Oldham.
Prior to working in education, Gary has over 14years of clinical/ industry experience in the field of adult Health and Social Care from a variety of services for example, elderly, community outreach, learning disability, mental health, and forensic services. Gary is particularly interested in the area of learning disability, mental health and forensic service and how we promote and assist people to develop skills to empower their own lives and tailor the services provided to meet their needs. Gary is also interested in how we raise societies awareness and the implementation of equity within local communities and within the world we live.
With Gary’s boarder interests in health and social care and the field of psychology, he has carried out researched with in the local community around the support and accessibility of services offered to males who suffer with different social and health issues. From the research he has set up and supports the running of the men’s group to help educate, offer guidance, and assisted the men and their families who suffer from a verity issues such as, social isolation, family breakdowns, alcohol and/or drug issues, to help raise their aspirations and raise their awareness to develop new skills to overcome their challenges and empower their own lives.
In 2017 Gary was given the opportunity to attend and deliver his research on public’s general attitudes towards offenders being reintegrated into society after completing their sentence and rehabilitation programme, at the Undergraduate Research Conference at Bournemouth University.
Gary was given a commendation award for National Student of the Year 2017, through the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON), for exceptional work as a student ambassador.
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Psychological studies
PGCE (Lifelong Learning)
Michelle is a Senior Lecturer within the Teacher Education Team.
She has worked as a teacher educator since September 2013 and works on the In-service and Pre-service PGCE/Cert Ed, as well as teaching on the MA Education (Teaching & Learning). In addition, she co-ordinates the observation schemes at UCO and is involved in a range of other projects, including Alumni and Equality & Diversity events. Michelle also has several years of experience working as an English teacher at Oldham College, prior to taking up her current post. During her time working in Further Education Michelle managed GCSE and Study Skills programmes, as well as mentoring PGCE students and being a member of the College’s observation team.
Michelle has achieved a Doctor of Education (EdD) qualification with the University of Huddersfield in 2021 and has a particular interest in peer learning on GCSE English resit programmes. Her thesis can be found here: Thesis Template for Researchers (hud.ac.uk). As part of her MA Education, she has previously been involved with research into group work in adult GCSE classes.
Peer learning
Doctor of Education;
MA Education;
QTLS;
PGCE Lifelong Learning;
BA (Hons) Literature
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Teacher Education Advancement Network (TEAN) Annual Conference 2014
University Campus Oldham Symposium 2018
Vikki joined the Early Years Team as a Lecturer at UCO in May 2018 with over 20 years’ experience across a range of early years, education and play settings.
Vikki has previously owned and managed a childcare business which provided before, after and holiday care for children age 4-11 and she is a qualified Primary Teacher (QTS) with experience of teaching in the Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and 2. Vikki has also worked for local authorities as an Early Years, Childcare and Play Advisor for Cheshire East Council and as a Lead Advisor for Early Years and Education for Trafford Council.
Working at strategic levels, Vikki held specific responsibility for supporting Head Teachers and Managers within schools, private, voluntary and independent provision. Vikki supported provisions to meet Ofsted regulatory frameworks; including support with inspections, play, and quality improvement and safeguarding practice. Vikki was involved with the implementation of government initiatives such as the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative, Extended Schools Agenda, Sure Start programmes, Children’s Centres and the roll out of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory framework.
Vikki holds the internationally recognised Environment Rating Scales qualification, used for large UK research studies such as the Effective Provision of Pre School (EPPE) and the National Evaluation of Sure Start (NESS) and has assessed and supported provision across Trafford using these scales. Vikki delivered the pilot for a school ‘Transitions Project’ in partnership with the East Manchester Education Action Zone and Manchester Metropolitan University; which resulted in the roll out of this project across all primary schools in East Manchester. She is a qualified Play work Principles tutor and quality assurance mentor and has written and delivered training extensively across all early years sectors, including schools, nurseries, and childminders and out of school play provision. Vikki has a particular interest in risk, play and quality in early years practice. V
ikki has taught in Further Education and Higher Education and has previously lectured on the CACHE L3 Early Years and Education Diploma and the Healthcare Play Specialism Foundation Degree. On this course Vikki supported experienced and qualified early years practitioners to meet professional standards required to become Healthcare Play Specialists leading to registration with Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET).
B.Ed. (Hons) Primary Education (QTS) 2000 –(Manchester Metropolitan University)
Suzanne AtkinsSuzanne is Course Leader of BA (Hons) Graphic Design and has taught for over 20 years as a tutor, lecturer and course leader in both FE and HE. Graduating with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from the University of Central Lancashire, she initially specialised in illustration and exhibition design working on projects for Ragdoll Television Productions and Eureka! The Children’s Museum. She has a particular interest in the field of creative thinking, an interest that originated during her Degree studies and was further explored during research undertaken as part of her Masters’ level PGCE with the University of Greenwich.
The creation of original visual communication through experimental typography, creative art direction and mixed media image making is a practical feature of Suzanne’s teaching, in conjunction with the collaborative use of digital tools and online platforms to help realise and produce professional outcomes. This is underpinned with the delivery of historical and contemporary contextualisation, placing theory and practice at the centre of project management.
Other research fields include marketing and advertising theory and integrated campaign strategy; all with a focus on creativity and innovation. Suzanne is currently exploring the concept of creativity and change; the idea that creative thought and humanitarian design can be instrumental in changing the world.
Through links with industry, Suzanne is currently working on educational projects centred on design disruption and creativity with purpose as part of an emerging network of designers and educators.
BA (Hons) Graphic Design, University of Central Lancashire
PGCE PCET, University of Greenwich
D&AD
Adobe Education Exchange
Matt joined UCO in 2016 teaching Psychology, going on to fulfil key roles within both the Criminology and Psychology teams.
He has been involved in research looking at the psychology of offending, identifying ‘guilty knowledge’ in suspects, expanding on existing research around lie detection regarding criminal actions of suspects. He also has broader interests within health psychology, looking at the moderation of pain perception with the use of altered states of consciousness.
Matt has used his working experiences as a mentor, coach, and trainer to develop his person focused, motivational teaching practice.
Examining the Validity of the Concealed Information Test
BSc (Hons) Psychological Studies,
MSc Investigative Psychology,
PGCE (lifelong learning)
Martin is a Senior Lecturer at the University Campus with course leader responsibilities for the Teacher Training Courses. He also represents UCO as a centre manager within the HUDCETT consortium.
Martin Joined the organisation in January 2013 after working as a curriculum leader at Oldham College. Having previously completed an MPhil at the University of Manchester in Education Policy and Leadership Martin has retained a current research interest in education via his doctoral studies. Prior to taking up his current role Martin has been a curriculum manager for Creative Arts, a music teacher and has been directly involved in teacher education for a number of years. He also has extensive experience of teaching and learning quality systems and has performed a number of advisory roles most notably with Pearson and UCLAN.
Education Policy & Leadership
PhD (ongoing) MPhil, MA, PGCE, QTS, PGCPSE, BA (Hons)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Lea, M R; An investigation into leadership in further education at a time of rapid change. University of Manchester. (2012)
ECER Istanbul 2013
National FE Conference 2015
Leanne has worked in Further and Higher Education for the past 13 years and is passionate about education being the key driver for success in terms of personal and social development.
Leanne currently manages the Foundation Entry (FdE), Foundation Degree (FdA) Health and Social Care and the BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Top-Up degree courses. In addition to this, she is also the Teaching and Learning Subject Lead for her faculty.
Leanne is particularly interested in the area of disability and how, as a society, we enable people to empower their own lives as well as raising awareness and implementing equality within the world in which we live.
Prior to working in education, Leanne lived and worked in San Francisco for a number of years where she was the Aquatics Director of a charity that catered for people who were primarily blind or visually impaired, but often had additional complex disabilities.
On returning to the UK, Leanne was also the Secretary of an Autism charity that catered for young people and their families within the local area.
Leanne is also linked to another North West university where she works within the School of Education on the distance-learning PGCE course and has a keen interest in online teaching, learning and assessment.
Leanne’s research interests centre around digitalisation in education and this area forms the basis of her EdD doctoral study.
Please can you add the following to my Qualifications:
Doctor of Education (EdD) – commencing October 2021 – ‘Digitalisation in Post-Compulsory Education’
Gill MillsGill is lecturer in Psychology. She is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society.
She has experience of teaching psychology and related disciplines at further and higher education levels spanning 23 years. She has been an assistant examiner for psychology coursework, and an external examiner for a foundation degree programme and an honours degree programme awarded by the University of Essex.
Gill has a particular interest in developmental psychology, with a focus on early development, attachment relationships and the relevance of these in later adult life. She co-authored a chapter in an edited text which focused on influences on children’s wellbeing in early years settings, including the role of the media, advertising and a range of other factors.
Gill has researched the links between group activities, belonging and student motivation in non-traditional student groups in higher education settings.
Non-traditional students’ sense of belonging and links between relationships within groups, belonging and motivation.
Published chapter in an edited text focusing on factors influencing children’s wellbeing in early years settings.
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Biology
PGCE
Masters in Higher Education
Graduate membership of British Psychological Society
“Rethinking Children’s Wellbeing and Inclusion in Practice” in Brody, K and Savage, K. (Eds) (2015) Inclusion and Early Years Practice. Routledge. Oxon
Reviewer for Safer Communities Journal (2016)
Ben AtkinsBen Atkins is a Lecturer and Module Leader within the Graphic Design team at University Campus Oldham. After graduating with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Central Lancashire in 1992, Ben worked at a number of advertising and design agencies in London and the North West for almost 16 years. This allowed him to develop his love of creative thinking whilst producing award-winning outcomes to briefs, both printed and digital, for a number of national and international clients.
In 2009, Ben took up a post as a Lecturer at Blackpool and The Fylde College, teaching students on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design and BA (Hons) Illustration programmes, as well as delivering Contextural Studies lectures and seminars. Ben is experienced at teaching on all three years of the Graphic Design degree, and the industry experience he has acquired over the past 25 years, and continues to develop today as a freelance practitioner, informs his practice and delivery, ensuring his teaching sessions are not only informative but also current and contemporary.
Angela ApplebyAngela is the Team Leader for the Library and Resource Centre delivering support to students working as part of the Academic Support Services team.
Angela has worked in the further education sector for over 25 years in a range of library based roles. Angela has a passion for information and digital literacies and supports students in developing these skills to facilitate effective academic study. Angela’s practice has been influenced by her current academic study where she has completed a module on Digital media and information literacy.
Angela has a special interest in the use of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment. As Head of e-Learning at a previous college, Angela co-wrote the submission application for a Jisc Award for Effective Use of Technology in FE (AoC Beacon Award) for which the college was shortlisted in 2015. Angela manages the virtual leaning environment (VLE) at UCO and delivers training and support for both academic staff and students.
Currently undertaking MA Digital Technologies, Communication and Education (University of Manchester)
BA (Hons) Information and Library Management (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Level 4 BTEC Professional Certificate in e-Learning (Netskills)
City and Guilds 7307 Further and Adult Education Teacher’s Certificate (South Trafford College)
Enabling students to succeed through integrated and embedded skills development provision – University of Central Lancashire, July 2019