Fellowships Case Study: Ellie Dorrans

I first completed the Associate Fellowship during my PhD, and I am now partway through the Fellowship programme. Looking back, this process has been one of the most formative parts of my development as an educator. It has provided the structure and encouragement to pause and think deeply about why I teach the way I do, what matters most in my practice, and how I can continue to develop professionally.

Because of this, I have come to value student feedback in a completely different way. Rather than viewing it as something to collect at the end of a module, I now see it as an ongoing conversation. I actively create opportunities for students to share their thoughts and experiences throughout a course and make a conscious effort to act on what they tell me. When students see their feedback in action, genuinely shaping their learning environment, it builds trust and partnership and that has transformed both my teaching practice and the classroom environment.

The Fellowship team have played a huge role in that transformation. They are an incredible source of support, and always available to share their knowledge and encouragement, and are genuinely invested in each participants development. They don’t just talk about best practice, they model it through their workshops, and all of the support that comes with it, giving those of us that take part an experience of what effective, inclusive, and student-centred practice looks like.

My most memorable moment (so far) has been the Fellowship graduation ceremony. Standing in a room with colleagues ranging from Associate Fellow right through to Principal and National Teaching Fellows was genuinely inspirational, knowing we all share a passion for delivering the best teaching possible… Opportunities to connect with colleagues in this way, across roles and subject areas, are rare, and the Fellowship community provides a unique space for that collaboration to thrive.

I can’t recommend the Fellowship programmes highly enough. They recognise the commitment that goes into teaching, but more importantly, the joy and purpose behind it. Everyone involved in teaching, at any career stage, would benefit from engaging with this community and reflecting on their practice in such a supportive environment.

Find out more about the Education Fellowship Programme or get in touch with the team on ltacademy@cardiff.ac.uk.