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Two academics from Buckinghamshire New University’s (BNU) School of Human and Social Sciences (HaSS) Barbara Nicolls, Senior Lecturer in Postgraduate Education and Neal Reynolds, Senior Lecturer in Sports. have received nominations in prestigious sector awards,

Barbara Nicolls alongside one fellow finalist, has been nominated for Best Formative Assessment Project in the e-Assessment International Conference and Award ceremony (eAAwards). The award acknowledges e-assessment projects that have made significant improvements to formative assessment practices. 

Barbara’s project, titled ‘ClassCollaborate Presentation Rooms-based Formative Peer Assessment of Oral Presentations’ aims to develop the Postgraduate Certificate in Practice students’ knowledge of assessment and feedback literacies through an authentic assessment of oral presentations in ClassCollaborate Presentation, and promote shared responsibility of assessment between course teams and students. The project involved 40 students on the Postgraduate Certificate in Practice Education from January to March 2024.

Speaking of her nomination, Barbara said: “This nomination matters immensely to me and my colleague and Education Lead, Associate Professor Dr Rebecca Rochon; however, it is about the broader education community in the School of Human & Social Sciences and Buckinghamshire New University. 

“It signifies that the e-FPA approach to oral presentation matters. Seamless integration with the postgraduate certificate in practice education programme learning outcomes, robust security of the VLE’s ClassCollaborate and the Discussion Forum, and learner- and learning-centred design of the learning environment significantly enhanced the students’ educational experience as they feel empowered to make decisions with regard to outcomes working in partnership with their peers and with the programme team. Moreover, it also improved student outcomes as evident in the assessment results. 

Neal Reynolds was recognised for the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) Practitioner Awards 2024, receiving a nomination for a Practitioner of the Year Award. BNU is one of only 33 sites across the UK accredited to deliver funded support for nominated TASS athletes and allows the university to support students to pursue not only their academic potential but their sporting passions without compromising on performance quality.

Neal commented: “I feel very honoured to have been nominated for this award and feel that it is recognition for all the hard work that the sports staff team at BNU have put into building our reputation as a TASS provision site in the UK.  As a multidisciplinary team, we currently support nearly 50 elite and internationally competing athletes from sports such as fencing, wheelchair basketball, artistic swimming, ice hockey, rowing, judo, beach volleyball and many more.  

“We offer them physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, lifestyle, psychology and nutritional advice/services to ensure they are in the best condition possible to help them pursue their individual sporting dreams. I am proud to be a part of such a great team.”

Dr Ciarán O’Keeffe, Head of Human and Social Sciences at BNU added: 

“I am incredibly proud of Barbara and Neal and everyone within HaSS for the hard work they continue to put in throughout the year. These awards highlight how HaSS staff use their academic and professional experience to also empower graduating students to perform and ultimately have a positive impact on individuals, communities, and society.”