Find out about our academics, their work histories and educational interests.
Asim Ali - HPE Programme Director, Lecturer and Distance Learning MSc Lead
Asim joined University of Bristol in 2021 as a Lecturer and is now the Programme Director and Lead for MSc (Distance Learning) within the HPE programme. He also teaches the following units:
- Theory & Practice of Learning and Teaching | MEEDM0037
- Assessment & Evaluation | MEEDM0026
- Clinical Based Education | MEEDM0025
For the past 10 years he has been involved in medical education, as well as Faculty Development programmes in the National University (Sudan) from 2013-2016. As Director of CPD, Asim planned, delivered, and oversaw curricular, instructional, and organizational development projects. His abiding interests remain in teacher development, academic leadership, and community of practice; hence, he is keen on being involved in mentoring fellow lecturers, tutors, and students from all walks of life in UoB.
Prior to earning his master’s in Health Professions Education from Vanderbilt University (USA), Asim held a medical degree from the International University of Africa (Sudan). He is currently finishing a PhD in Medical Education at Swansea University investigating the effectiveness of Cognitive Load Theory in improving learning and problem-solving. His research utilizes the innovative use of evidence-based frameworks of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesize evidence and inform educators on best practices. Asim’s major research interests are in the areas of Problem-Solving, Instructional Design, Cognitive Load Theory, Mental Models, and Decision Making. He welcomes all students and researchers wishing to collaborate on any of the themes listed here as well as other topics in educational research.
Andrew Burnett – Lecturer and Certificate Lead
Andrew Burnett MBA (S. Wales), LLM (Cardiff), PGCE (Cardiff)
Andrew is an experienced and qualified practitioner within adult learning contexts, also holding statutory QTS equivalence as a teacher in primary and secondary schools in England.
Andrew is the Certificate Lead within the HPE programme and delivers the Leading in Education unit within the Diploma.
Andrew’s latest research interests are focussed upon how vocational students’ professional backgrounds can impact upon their approach to learning. He is currently working toward his Doctorate of Education and undertaking a qualitative study that seeks to unpack TLHP student perspectives in this area.
Andrew is married to a G.P. and believes this offers some insight into the challenges faced by those within the health professions. He suggests new teachers consider that "learning can happen without any intended teaching taking place".
Tricia Thorpe - Lecturer and Diploma Lead
Tricia Thorpe is the Programme Lead for the Diploma and the Lead Tutor for the following units:
- The Arts & Humanities in Medical and Healthcare Education (Diploma)
- Curriculum Development and Course Design (Diploma)
Tricia has been a lecturer on HPE for over a decade and she teaches across the entire programme. Her background is in Modern Languages and in Teacher Training for both adult education tutors and future secondary teachers.
At Bristol, Tricia has run many education conferences for HPE and the whole Faculty. She has a particular interest in the Arts and Humanities, including their use in Medical Education, and she is also interested in course design and curriculum development.
Steve Jennings - Lecturer and MSc Lead
Steve Jennings, MA (Hons)
Steve is a Lecturer on the HPE programme at the University of Bristol, as well as at Cardiff University, where he teaches across various social sciences, education, psychology and research methods courses on the Pathways to Healthcare and Social Science at the Continuing and Professional Education centre. He also has experience teaching undergraduate programmes in sociology and education at the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff.
Steve teaches the following Certificate units: Theory & Practice, Assessment & Evaluation, Clinical Based Education and Diploma units: Research Methods and Curriculum Development and Course Design.
Steve is currently finishing his Ph.D., researching the impact of policy on social and emotional learning interventions in primary schools in south Wales. Steve’s research fuses interdisciplinary perspectives from public health, social science, community psychology and education. He is about to embark on a new Macmillan-funded project in the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Cardiff University, a qualitative study focused on patients’ and health professionals’ experiences of cancer immunotherapy.
Steve is particularly interested in the sociology of education, social and emotional learning, innovative teaching methods, transformative education, qualitative research in health education and context and implementation of educational and health interventions.
Stephen Pickering - Lecturer
Stephen Pickering BA (Hons), PGCE, PGCert in HE, MA, FHEA
Stephen has worked in education for many years as a teacher in a range of schools and in an advisory capacity for Worcestershire. He has spent almost twenty years in teacher education, working on the BA (Hons), PGCE and Masters routes as Senior Lecturer for education at the University of Worcester. Stephen's doctoral research investigates the importance of place and space in learning. He has an interest in outdoor education. Stephen lives by the sea and spends a lot of time in the water.
Sarah McLaughlin - Lecturer and FMED Lead
Sarah is a qualified teacher in post compulsory education and higher academic practice, who has taught sociology, educational theory and marketing in further and higher education. She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and her research areas include education, social class, intersectionality and social justice.