Associate Professor Rachael O’Connor earns recognition for innovation in advising
Enhancing support for tutors and students across the University has earned a coveted accolade for one of the leading lights behind this transformative work.
Associate Professor Rachael O’Connor – University Academic Lead for Personal Tutoring – has received the Innovation in Advising award from the UK Advising and Tutoring Association (UKAT).
This award recognises individuals who’ve demonstrated outstanding innovation in their individual practice as advisors, or in supporting the development of others and the enhancement of advising.
UKAT is a global learned society of professional practitioners and researchers committed to advancing the scholarship and practice of student advising and personal tutoring in UK higher education.
Reflecting on the award, Rachael said: “As the Lead for Academic Personal Tutoring (APT) at Leeds, I’m extremely proud to have won this award. UKAT is a fantastic organisation with an outstanding reputation for enhancing personal tutoring and academic advising across the sector.
This is a lovely recognition of all the work we’ve been doing across campus to enhance our APT provision – including the reverse mentoring project I undertook through my Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence fellowship and our recent series of APT design sprints.
“I undoubtedly share this award with all the wonderful students, colleagues and alumni who’ve been – and continue to be – part of our APT transformation work. I’m really excited for what the next year will bring.”
The School of Law is proud of Rachael’s achievement in this important space. Professor Lydia Bleasdale, Co-Director of the Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education says:
Having taught Rachael at Leeds and heard her speak so glowingly about the impact her own academic personal tutor had on her, I know her work in this area is very much a labour of love. She approaches it with academic rigour, collaborating with students and colleagues along the way, with a keen eye on how she can make a lasting, practical difference to students.
Rachael can be found on LinkedIn here.
