WBS teaching excellence recognised with National Teaching Fellowship

Warwick Business School academic Isabel Fischer has been named as a winner of the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE.

Every year the higher education body celebrates the impact of teaching in the UK by recognising and celebrating teaching excellence on an individual, team and institutional basis.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education.

Dr Fischer, Associate Professor (Reader) of Responsible Digital Innovation and Educations, was also this year recognised as a Principal Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and so is the first WBS academic to be named as a PFHEA and a National Teaching Fellow – the two highest national teaching and education awards.

“I am very honoured to win this prestigious award,” said Dr Fischer, who worked for 20 years in the finance industry at the likes of American Express and Visa before moving into higher education

“I have worked hard to bring the real-world to the classroom. My own quantitative research confirms that bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application boosts student motivation, learning, and increases academic achievement.

“I am also passionate about using technology to enhance the learning experience, it is something I continue to explore with the AI Essay-Analyst tool I have been working on and developing, which has helped students refine their writing style.

“The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme is a great tradition and to be named among so many revered colleagues across the top universities in the UK is a real honour, and something I am very grateful for.”

Jacky Swan, Pro-Dean (Teaching & Learning), said Dr Fischer’s award is fully deserved due to her entrepreneurial attitude to teaching.

“Isabel is a wonderfully innovative teacher,” said Professor Swan. “She has explored various digital teaching and learning environments with cutting-edge technologies.

“Her work on the AI-based formative feedback tool for assessments has been fantastic to see, as is her passion for using pedagogic innovations to enhance the student experience - something the School encourages.

“Isabel exemplifies our Change Maker values with her restless desire to improve the learning environment for students.”

Dr Fischer, who teaches Introduction to Consulting on the MSc Management and Creating Digital Communities on the MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation, has also won two awards for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching at WBS, and in 2023 won a Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence.

Her AI Essay-Analyst tool helps level the playing field between students from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers from more privileged backgrounds. It has gained funding to be piloted at other UK universities.

Dr Fischer is one of 55 higher education professionals to be awarded National Teaching Fellowships, with 17 university teams recognised with a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence.

Alison Johns, Advance HE Chief Executive, said: “Advance HE has the privilege of running these prestigious awards on behalf of the sector and we are extremely proud of the way these teams and individuals enhance the quality of teaching in higher education. 

“We know that higher education has the power to transform lives but this doesn’t happen by default. Outstanding teaching is the result of knowledge, commitment, passion, energy and creativity. All of these 2024 winners demonstrate these attributes and put them into practice with excellent results.

“It is vital for student success that we invest in higher education teaching and promote the value of excellence. 

“Congratulations to each and every one of you for this prestigious prize.”