‌Professor Cook (pictured) is one of only limited number of educators in the UK to achieve the organisation’s most prestigious award.

Professor Cook, who is based within the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University’s School of Management on the Bay Campus, received his Principal Fellowship in recognition of a sustained record of strategic impact and influence in relation to teaching and learning extending beyond his own institution.

Since joining Swansea University in 2000, Professor Cook has held numerous leadership positions including the roles of Head of School and Head of Department, while establishing a reputation for excellence in both research and teaching.

As a highly active researcher, Professor Cook has developed an extensive research profile publishing in a number of disciplines including econometrics, statistics and economics, in addition to holding numerous editorial positions at a variety of journals.

These research activities complement the repeated recognition Professor Cook has received for his teaching across a number of areas at national and international levels which has included the frequent publication of innovative teaching materials, the delivery of invited national workshops and addresses, the receipt of HEA funding for teaching innovations, being the invited subject of an HEA focus group and the receipt of HEA teaching awards.

Having served as an external examiner and programme reviewer at numerous institutions over the past 15 years, Professor has just completed an invited audit of teaching provision at a leading School of Economics.  The award of Principal Fellowship of the HEA recognises the numerous teaching innovations and developments Professor Cook has made at national and international levels.

Speaking about the award, Professor Cook said: "I am delighted to have received a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.  As the national body for enhancing learning and teaching in Higher Education, the HEA is a critically important organisation.  Principal Fellowship is the HEA’s highest level of teaching recognition and it is a real honour to have received this award."

For more information on the HEA visit https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/.