Laura Hills

My work in the Centre for Inclusion and Collaborative Partnerships focuses particularly on how we embed our work within the institution and the professional development issues for university staff which arise from that.
More generally, I work closely with Human Resources Development on the professional development of academics. I am on the Professional Development Coordination Group and I also work with colleagues across the University on a professional development framework for academic staff.
I have a particular interest in the role that action research and the scholarship of teaching and learning can play in the professional development of individual practitioners. Much of this interest arose from my secondment to two of the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. I have been involved in academic and research support for small-scale action research projects undertaken by tutors on the Openings programme and the development of a website for practitioner researchers within the Open University.
My own professional development is very close to my heart. I have recently completed the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) portfolio course on supporting educational change and am now studying the Open University’s Certificate in Academic Practice.
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