FACULTY STAFF

Profile

Qualifications

MA Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
BA Joint Honours English and Philosophy, University of Leeds

Experience

Developing and embedding work-based learning from the mid 1990’s
Academic Advisor to the Cabinet Office’s Emergency Planning College
Senior Teaching Fellow
Lecturer, Cultural and Communication Studies, Trinity and All Saints University College
Teaching Fellow, School of Continuing Education, University of Leeds
Consultancy to public/private and not for profit sectors
Prior to the move to an academic career, private sector business management and consultancy.

Responsibilities

Current WBL Contracts
2002 – 2006 contract with MoD with our partners Atkins Centre for Corporate Learning
2005 – 2009 contract with Cabinet Office’s Emergency Planning College

Corporate Partners
Provision of academic and professional programmes includes:
From 1998 (ongoing) University of Leeds’ Staff & Departmental Development Unit:
Academic programmes for University support staff up to Masters’ level
2000 – 2006 Kelda Group, Yorkshire Water:
Leadership, management and asset management at postgraduate level
2002 – 2007 firstdirect Bank:
Induction modules at postgraduate level & C&G Senior Awards at graduateship level
2004 – 2005 Victim Support:
Management team work
2006 Environment Agency:
Mentoring provision

Research

Margaret’s remit has been to develop and embed work-based learning programmes at the University and, to this end, she has designed and developed a comprehensive and innovative portfolio that is aimed primarily at the Public & Private Sectors. Her research interests centre on organisational and personal development through frameworks that allow interconnectivity between external work environments and academia. Essentially, work-based learning methodology allows students to engage with leading-edge theory that can be tested within the workplace and utilised to support workforce development and productivity. Currently, she is looking at how the benefits of work-based approaches can be identified and measured against specific organisational objectives within partner organisations. Having worked successfully in the relatively new field of work-based learning for the last 12 years, Margaret has a recognised expertise and contributes regularly to policy debates around WBL and to conferences both in the UK and internationally.

The Emergency Planning College Contract
In 2005, Margaret prepared the successful bid for the Business School, through the Work-Based Learning Unit, to become academic partners to the Cabinet Office’s Emergency Planning College (EPC) www.epcollege.gov.uk. The initial remit of the contract was for the construction of an academic framework to increase the capacity of the College to offer both accredited and professional qualifications to support UK resilience. The partnership has now developed an additional dimension; the Chief Executive of the EPC, with Margaret’s support, has negotiated a contract with the Police Academy of Abu Dhabi and currently 45 students are undertaking language training at the University. These students will undertake academic qualifications in LUBS and SPEME in 2007. Initial negotiations with other Emirates are currently underway.

Teaching

Currently, Programme Director:
Work-Based Learning MA & MSc
Postgraduate Diplomas by Work-Based Learning
Postgraduate Certificates by WBL
Postgraduate Certificate Asset Management
Postgraduate Certificate Mentoring
City and Guilds’ programmes by Work-Based Learning