One of the responsibilities of the HEA is to provide a supportive process for the professional recognition of teaching and supporting learning, which it does through its Fellowship service. There are four categories of recognition; Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow and Principal Fellow, of which Principal is the highest.

The title of Principal Fellowship of The Higher Education Academy is awarded to academics with substantial strategic commitment in Higher Education, and who have demonstrated a sustained and effective record of impact at strategic level, along with a wider commitment to academic practice and strategic leadership in teaching in order to enhance the student learning experience. 

Having previously worked as a nurse, midwife and health visitor, Jane had a range of professional service experience prior to her entry to teaching over twenty five years ago. From joining the School of Health as a community care lecturer, she has held roles including:  practice teaching in the National Health Service, practice management for adult nursing and Director of Quality. In that role she oversaw assessment, admissions and placements and chaired the learning and teaching, curriculum quality and admissions committees. In her current senior role Jane manages the learning and teaching remit, including both staff and programmes.

Jane is engaged with the institutional agenda from a number of perspectives, enabling her to share and benefit from best practice. She is committed to educational practice from strategy to delivery, developing students and teachers to their full potential. She sustains a postgraduate teaching load, enabling her to stay close to the student experience as a practitioner, as well as managing a range of programmes. Her managerial role includes directing academic strategy in the College of Human and Health Sciences within Swansea University as well the directorship of the Swansea Academy of Learning and Teaching.

Following being awarded Principal Fellowship, Jane said: “I am absolutely delighted to be recognised in this way and at this level. While being made a Principal Fellow is a personal honour, it is also an opportunity for me to raise the profile of teaching excellence within and beyond the institution. The recognition I have achieved would not have been possible without the support, skills and energy of colleagues in the CHHS and across the University, working with me in diverse and exciting ways”.