Richard is a Lecturer in Higher Education Practice within the Centre for Higher Education Research and Practice (CHERP) at Ulster University (UU). After a successful career in graphic and interactive design in Belfast, Richard started down the educational technology path in 2002 when he began working in BBC NI Education Online and subsequently Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment’s multimedia department.
He joined UU in their online master’s team in 2006 advising course teams on best practice in online and blended delivery, electronic assessment and feedback and digital enhancement. Drawing on his pedagogic expertise, he transitioned to an academic development role in 2017 and teaches on First Steps to Teaching and on the MEd in Higher Education Practice.
Richard is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology. He has a passion for enhancing student learning experiences and outcomes through appropriate use of technology and built pedagogies. His appetite for developing his practice through extensive CPD has led to him constantly evolving himself to develop others.
As a result of his tireless efforts to enhance student experiences, he has established and led several pan-institutional initiatives that promote digital pedagogies, learning environments, active learning, digital storytelling, and student partnership. These initiatives are built around providing opportunities for others to excel, share practice and learn from one another in safe environments that facilitate risk taking.
Richard feels privileged to work at UU during a crucial time in its history as they prepare to move to a new campus in Belfast city centre. He has been instrumental in an institutional approach to adopting active and collaborative learning that utilises all spaces formal/informal and digital/physical. He effortlessly builds communities of practice for staff and students within UU that are aligned to key strategic priorities. Richard has built on internal success fostering a cross-sector network through the ALT Active Learning Special Interest Group where he has brought together the primary, post primary, FE, HE and professional sectors. Richard was recognised for this work in March 2022, when he was announced as a Jisc Community Champion.
