profile

Dr Tamsin Kilner
Senior Lecturer in Education Practice
Ext. 4899
Baring Court BC207
Baring Court, University of Exeter St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Office hours: I don't have formal office hours, but you can book a time to meet with me via MS Bookings.
Overview
With eighteen years' experience working in various roles in HE, I'm interested in inclusive practice and wellbeing, with a particular focus on supporting the professional development of educators working in both academic and Professional Services roles. I teach on the Academic Professional programme as a Senior Lecturer in Education Practice, and I supervise Masters' dissertation students in the School of Education, as well as acting as pastoral tutor for the School's postgraduate researchers. I also lead on writing support for APP participants, offering structured time for progressing writing relating to any aspect of the programme. I'm delighted to be a Colleague Mental Health Champion too; you can find out more about this here.
Previously, I was Senior Academic Developer in Academic Development, where I was also Director of Exeter's experiential route to HEA Fellowship the ASPIRE Professional Recognition Pathway (PRP). I now mentor and assess for the PRP, as well as offering mentoring to colleagues leading on support of HEA fellowship at other institutions.
Communication, academic writing, mentoring, and coaching are long-term fascinations for me, and I am also an experienced copy-editor and proofreader. I'm interested in supervising projects around neurodiversity in HE, with a particular focus on autism and ADHD.
Qualifications
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
PhD English, University of Exeter
MA (Dist.), University of Exeter
BA (Hons; Dean's Commendation), University of Exeter
Career
My work to date includes:
- Director of the ASPIRE Professional Recognition Pathway (PRP), and main liaison for Advance HE
- Leading and line-managing the ASPIRE PRP team, including co-creation and delivery of workshops and writing retreats, and day-to-day applicant support
- Supporting and developing the ASPIRE PRP Mentors' Forum, growing numbers from c. 30 to over 100
- (Re)developing the Education Toolkit, including a particular focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and wellbeing for students and staff (2019-2021)
- Lead on internal support for National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) applications
- External reviewer for NTFS applications
- Leading on the reaccreditation by Advance HE of the ASPIRE Framework, including the Academic Professional programme, the Learning & Teaching in Higher Education programme (LTHE), and the ASPIRE Professional Recognition Pathway (PRP) (2020)
- External examiner for HEA Fellowship applicants, University of Gloucestershire (2020)
- Proofreader and copy-editor specialising in academic work (2010 to date)
- Consultant for Impact Case Study development (REF2021), Research Services, University of Exeter (2020)
- External mentor for PFHEA applicants (2020)
- Designing and facilitating a range of socially structured writing retreats across the University of Exeter, working with Law, the College of Medicine and Health, and Research Services (2018-2021)
- Humanities lead for LTHE (2015-19)
- Lead on academic induction, involving the co-creation with external developers of a resource to support new staff arriving at Exeter with developing an understanding of the institutional structures and staff (2015-2016)
- Educational techologist, Technology-enhanced Learning team (2006-2014)
- Educational technology lead for School of English, University of Exeter (2005-2006)
- Teaching various undergraduate and Masters modules in School of English, University of Exeter (2003-2006)
- Widening Participation mentor for School of English, University of Exeter (2003-2006)
- Research assistant on AHRC-funded Early Stuart Libels
- Research on Victorian literature and the occult, including conference presentations
Links
Research group links
Research
Research projects
Education Incubator: Neurodiversity and Universal Design for Learning
Education Incubator: Building Assessment Confidence (with Dr Lisa Alberici)
Research networks
JISCMail: Autism-in-HE (list owner)
External Engagement and Impact
External Examiner Positions
External examiner, Cardiff University (Advance HE-accredited routes to HEA fellowship)
External examiner, Loughborough University (Academic Professional Apprenticeship)
External positions
Consultant, Collaborative Capacities
Teaching
I'm interested in inclusive and interactive teaching and learning, including neurodivergence and universal design. I'm also interested in academic writing and creating communities of practice to support positive accountability leading to progress in writing via peer support.
In 2022/23, I am pastoral tutor for new postgraduate research students, and I'm teaching on:
EFPM308 Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation
EFPM900 The Contemporary Academic in Context
EFPM902 Creating Effective Learning in Higher Education
EFPM917 APP End-Point Assessment (Module Lead)
I also facilitate regular writing spaces for APP participants, held in Teams, and School of Education Focus & Write sessions (open to all members of the department); if you'd like to know more, please do get in touch.
Modules
2023/24
Supervision / Group
Postgraduate researchers
- Demelza Green