Double national award success for University of Chester staff
Staff from the University of Chester have received two national awards for their work to support excellent learning, teaching and assessment.
Academic and professional services staff have been awarded the prestigious accolades after being chosen from UK-wide nominees by the Staff Development Forum (SDF).
A team from across the institution has won a Silver Developing Excellent Practice Award and Dr Michelle Cordingley has been presented with a Platinum Women-Space Leadership Award.
The Developing Excellent Practice Award recognises work to support the implementation of the University’s new Academic Framework and Future Skills Curriculum, which in turn supports students to develop the skills needed to succeed post-University.
The work involved a whole-institution collaboration to reimagine the curriculum, drawing on expertise from academic colleagues, professional services staff and senior leaders including colleagues from the Centre for Academic Innovation and Development (CAID). The 2025 SDF Awards judges said: “It was a complex piece of work that has had a tangible impact not only on the curriculum but also on the people involved.”
The project was also recently supported by an Advance HE Collaborative Development Fund award, allowing the CAID team to work with colleagues at Southern Cross University, the University of Hull and the University of South Wales to develop a Strategic Toolkit for organisational change that will be available to the sector via the Advance HE website.
The Women-Space Leadership Award places a spotlight on “outstanding women in our higher education community”. The Platinum honour celebrated the achievements of Dr Michelle Cordingley, a CAID University Innovation Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Chester Medical School. The award acknowledged Michelle’s collaborative and transformational leadership, particularly in relation to enhancing assessment practice at the University and beyond.
Michelle said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have received the Platinum award for the SDF Women-Space Leadership Award. This recognition means a great deal to me, highlighting my journey as an educational leader through my role as a University Innovation Fellow and my commitment to advancing assessment at the University of Chester. It’s inspiring to see the positive impact of this work as we deliver the Future Skills Curriculum.”
Professor Jackie Potter, Dean of Academic Innovation at the University added: “I am thrilled for both Michelle and colleagues for well-deserved awards recognising and celebrating outstanding individuals and teams who exemplify innovation, collaboration, and excellence in staff and organisational development.
“Michelle’s impact on educational scholarship and leadership is exceptional. There is, no doubt, a ‘Michelle effect’ - where her committed and thoughtful leadership has inspired and encouraged others.
“Congratulations to Michelle, and all the staff who have contributed to the development and introduction of the new Academic Framework, Future Skills Curriculum and the ways they are preparing learners for life beyond higher education.”
For more on the Chester Future Skills Curriculum, please visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/study/teaching-and-learning/chester-future-skills/.
The SDF is a not-for-profit charitable organisation, representing and working with staff and organisational developers in higher education to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and organisational performance. Founded in 2004 and sponsored by Advance HE, the SDF is a nationally recognised and regionally representative network.
The awards were announced as part of the SDF Festival of Learning and Development 2025, held under the overarching theme ‘Facing the Future, Shaping the Now’.