School of Infection & Immunity

We are proud to announce that the School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Laura McCaughey is the recipient of a Teaching Excellence Award 2022/23 as part of the Life Sciences Portfolio RSB Accreditation Team.

The University of Glasgow recognises Teaching Excellence through awards presented to colleagues who have made an outstanding contribution to teaching and student support based on peer recognition.

Dr McCaughey and Dr Anna McGregor (School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine) have been acknowledged for their considerable efforts securing Royal Society of Biology accreditation for all 16 Life Sciences BSc Honours degrees.

RSB accreditation recognises academic achievement; increase standards of learning and teaching; enhance competitiveness of students in the global job market; provide industry with confidence in the level of general employability and subject-specific skills provided by a programme; and maintain and improve the UK as a prime location in which to develop life scientists of the future.

Beginning in 2020, the pair undertook a programme of work to determine what would need to be changed to ensure that our degrees met the accreditation criteria. 

To achieve this, Laura and Anna managed the downstream process of implementing required changes through alteration of teaching practice and implementing new approaches. 

They also prepared the rather onerous application and submission, managed site visits and liaised with the RSB throughout the accreditation process, as well as taking on responsibility for delivering re-accreditation every five years.

Sii Director of Education Professor Olwyn Byron said: "Graduation is the time at which we recognise the achievements of our students, and it is appropriate that we also recognise the achievements of the staff who have supported and encouraged them.

"It gave me great pleasure to nominate The Life Sciences Portfolio RSB Accreditation Team: Dr Laura McCaughey and Dr Anna McGregor for a Teaching Excellence Award.

"It is unsurprising that when surveyed about this new dimension to their degrees, an overwhelming 95 per cent of students who responded this year agreed that RSB degree accreditation could benefit their future career! 

"Since the Life Sciences honours degree programmes admit around 800 students per year, Laura and Anna’s efforts have and will continue to make a substantial and positive impact on a large number of students, some of whom are graduating this week!"  

Dr McCaughey said: "I am extremely grateful to Olwyn and Barbara [Mable] for nominating Anna and I for this award.

"It is lovely to be recognised for the work that went into this project and the continuing work we are doing to enhance the student experience."

 

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First published: 6 July 2023