Dr Alison Nimmo
Head of Academic Development
Academic Development and Student Learning
Dr Alison Nimmo is Head of Academic Development at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). At an institutional level she has particular responsibility for policy, and practice in professional development, recognition in learning and teaching and academic development.
Alison holds responsibility for the Academic Development Framework. This includes the University’s Accelerate CPD Learning and Teaching Framework which is accredited by the HEA. This framework enables GCU to judge eligibility of its staff for professional recognition across the four levels of Fellowship of the UK Professional Standards Framework (2011). This incorporates the university’s accredited programmes in learning and teaching predominantly designed to support new and inexperienced staff, and fast track RPiL e-portfolio route for experienced staff.
Alison has departmental oversight for the University’s accredited programmes in learning and teaching – the Post Experience Certificate in Supporting Student Learning and the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. These programmes are provided to GCU staff in blended and online learning.
Alison leads the Academic Development team to deliver the University’s Going Digital agenda including management and development of the VLE, digital developments in learning and teaching and associated CPD and staff training.
Alison has extensive experience in curriculum design including the design, development and delivery of work based learning and action research based programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
She is a previously elected member of Senate and has led a number of university boards and working groups. Alison has been the university's institutional theme leader for two QAA Enhancement Theme: Developing and Supporting the Curriculum, and Student Transitions. She is currently leading a QAA Collaborative Cluster on Resilient Academic Leadership working with colleagues from the Principal Fellow Scotland Network of which she is the inaugural Network Lead.
Alison is a Principal Fellow of the HEA and was a previous Convenor of the Scottish Higher Education Developers (SHED) community. She is an accreditor for Advance HE and provides critical peer support for those seeking Principal Fellow (UKPSF) and in relation to professional development and recognition to many institutions around the UK.
Alison has worked in a range of positions within GCU over the last 19 years. In addition she has experience of working in the education sector with a range of national bodies including the SQA, SFEU, SSFE and BBC Education, and in the third sector.
Alison gained her doctorate in Educational Research from Lancaster University in 2014 and her research interests include professionalism in learning and teaching and the application of symbolic interactionism in research contexts related to Higher Education. She currently supervises two Prof D students and has one successful completion.
Alison is located in the Britannia Building.