Dr Steve Briggs is Head of Professional and Academic Development (Learning Development - comprising of writing, maths and study skills) at the University of Bedfordshire. He led a transformation in Learning Development provision at the University – moving from a small remedial service to an institution-wide developmental provision. His key contributions include proposing and launching targeted academic skills teaching and significantly expanding the scope of Learning Development extracurricular provision. Steve’s role is cross-institutional and he routinely collaborates with academic staff from a range of subject areas and professional service staff. This has afforded his opportunities to positively impact on student attainment, satisfaction and retention outcomes throughout the University.
For the last four years, Steve has been Co-Chair of the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE). During this time, he led the development of a national Learning Development recognition scheme in the UK. He also led the introduction of ALDinHE regional networking events where Learning Developers and Teaching and Learning Practitioners can meet and share best practices. Steve regularly contributes to and presents at national and regional Learning Development events and is currently working to foster collaborative mentoring opportunities for Learning Development Practitioners and other Teaching and Learning colleagues.
Steve has a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Applied Psychology. Over the last decade he has been awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice and progressed his Advance HE (formerly HEA) Fellowship status from Fellow (2008) to Senior (2014) to Principal (2018). He has also completed a PhD which explored ‘university life event reporting and association with career decidedness, thoughtfulness and professionalism’ and been awarded Charted Psychologist status by the British Psychological Society.