Gold-standard teaching
Delivering a first-class learning experience that results in positive outcomes for our students is what we do best at the University. In recognition of this, we achieved an overall Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest possible rating. Our outstanding academic team go above and beyond to create immersive learning opportunities that help all students to build the foundations of a successful future.
- Teaching the teachers
- Top 2% scientists
- New Joint Honour courses
- Degree Apprenticeships
- Accreditation achievements
Teaching the teachers
Not only do we have a fantastic teaching team ourselves here at the University, but we are doing an ‘Outstanding’ job in inspiring the next generation of Primary, Secondary and Further Education teachers, according to Ofsted. In their latest report, our Initial Teacher Education programmes achieved the highest rating of ‘Outstanding’ which judges the quality of our education and training, leadership and management and overall effectiveness of our courses.
Two areas that received fantastic praise in the Ofsted report were our high-quality placements and our mentoring scheme. We are fortunate to have placement partners in a wide range of educational settings so we can give our trainees the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of teaching. This involves dealing with children of different ages, children with specific needs and children from diverse backgrounds, which helps our students to become adaptable and resilient graduates who are ready to take on a variety of challenges in the classroom.
Our excellent mentors are teaching professionals who can share their lived experiences with our students to help them build personal confidence and overcome any perceived obstacles while on placement, guiding them to successful outcomes. As a university, we wholeheartedly believe in the transformative power of education and take great pride in passing this belief onto the next generation of teachers.
World-leading academics
Last year, five of our esteemed academics were named in the ‘World Ranking Top 2% Scientists’, a global list created and updated annually by Stanford University. They were:
- Ray Bull, Professor in Criminal Investigation
- Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes, Professor of Operations Management and Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Management
- Paul Gilbert, Professor of Clinical Psychology
- Alex Molasiotis, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Education
- Hugh Rollinson, Emeritus Professor of Earth Science
In November 2023, three more of our academics have been added to the list which is considered among the most prestigious in the world and includes more than 100,000 scientists:
- James Avis, Professor of Post-Compulsory Education
- David Crouch, Emeritus Professor in Cultural Geography
- Zhiyin Yang, Professor of Aerospace Engineering
These results are based on two datasets; one which looks at career-long impact and another which concentrates on the impact a researcher has made over the last single year, showing how many times they have been cited according to a range of measures.
At the University of Derby, we focus on creating a positive global impact and our researchers are continually breaking boundaries to develop innovative solutions and build a better future for everyone. To have eight of our academics recognised as being in the Top 2% of scientists worldwide is a fantastic achievement and helps to solidify Derby’s position as a research powerhouse.
The University is a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment and More Than Our Rank, which represents our commitment to the responsible use of research metrics.
New Joint Honours courses
A suite of new Joint Honours courses has been added to our academic portfolio, offering students a new pathway to employment. Joint Honours is a fantastic study option for students who are undecided on a career, are interested in exploring a new subject alongside one they are already familiar with, or who require specialist expertise to progress in their chosen field.
Combining two subjects at degree level also allows students to develop time management skills which helps to prepare them for the workplace. Gaining experience and expertise in two subject areas makes our graduates highly versatile and adaptable.
In total, 52 Joint Honours courses have been introduced over the last academic year in a range of subjects including Business, English, History, Psychology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In our ever-changing world, AI will soon dominate every major industry sector and as a university committed to preparing students for the workplace, we must rise to meet this demand and equip students with AI capabilities alongside their specialist subject.
Our new suite of AI courses include:
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
- Artificial Intelligence in Digital Marketing
- Artificial Intelligence in Psychology
- Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources
- Artificial Intelligence in Criminology
Degree Apprenticeships
At the start of the year, in January 2024, the Office for Students awarded the University of Derby more than £300,000 to deliver five new Level 6 degree apprenticeships; Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Midwifery, Social Work and Youth Work. These programmes are designed to educate the workforce of the future and sustain our vital healthcare and social work sectors.
Later, in March 2024, the Office for Students announced further funding of more than £1.2 million to develop and support widening participation in a range of degree apprenticeships. Project Management, Nuclear Science and Engineering join the list of in-demand courses that were introduced in January. This award was the largest made in their second wave of funding, cementing our position as a first-choice industry partner.
Degree Apprenticeships offer an alternative pathway to a traditional degree, and we will continue to work with industry to co-create opportunities for students to gain valuable, specialist skills and real-world experiences to help improve business services.
Accreditation achievements
Our BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance course has achieved the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) accreditation and is now considered a full member of this awarding body. The EFMD is a network of business schools and corporations dedicated to enhancing excellence in management education and development globally. There are 142 EFMD-accredited programmes worldwide, with 109 in Europe and only 17 programmes (or groups of programmes) within the UK at 12 Business Schools, putting our undergraduate Accounting and Finance course in an elite category.
This accreditation comes as we prepare to open The Cavendish Building, which will be home to our Business School in 2025, sending an important message to not only prospective students, but to local enterprises and the global business community that we are institution of significant influence and ambition.
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