A BERE Ferrers resident has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy.
Avril Butler is senior lecturer in social work and practice learning co-ordinator at the University of Plymouth, having been a lecturer and co-ordinator since 1986.
She impressed the HEA with her passion for learning and teaching about social justice and will receive £10,000, to be used for personal or professional development in teaching and learning.
'Avril's innovation in teaching is demonstrated by the Students and Refugees Together project, which she initiated in Plymouth in 2001. This major teaching resource has provided inter-professional learning opportunities to over 100 students from four countries and more than ten disciplines, while generating contemporary case material to inform classroom teaching,' the HEA award says.
'She is committed to practices that make a difference and aims to inspire and challenge her students to look beyond conventional approaches.'
The award says Avril's leadership of the Social Work Centre for Practice Learning together with her Fellowship of the university's Centre for Sustainable Futures ensure that students have a progressive education, through international collaborations with both European and African countries which connected social work, environmental challenges and social justice.
Avril will collect her award at a special ceremony in London on September 24.