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Professor Foluke Adebisi shortlisted for Law Teacher of the Year 2024

Foluke Adebisi, Professor of Law at the University of Bristol Law School and Finalist Law Teacher of the Year 2024 at the Celebrating Excellence in Law Teaching conference, June 2024.

Foluke Adebisi, Professor of Law at the University of Bristol Law School and Finalist Law Teacher of the Year 2024 standing together with fellow award finalists at the Celebrating Excellence in Law Teaching conference, June 2024.

Professor Foluke Adebisi, Professor of Law at the University of Bristol Law School and Finalist Law Teacher of the Year 2024 at the Celebrating Excellence in Law Teaching conference, June 2024, together with colleagues Professor Sally Sheldon and Dr Sahar Shah.

20 June 2024

Foluke Adebisi, Professor of Law at the University of Bristol Law School, was among the finalists celebrated at the prestigious Law Teacher of the Year 2024 awards, held last week at the Oxford University Press Celebrating Excellence in Law Teaching conference.

The Law Teacher of the Year awards are the only national award to recognize and reward all-round law teaching excellence. The awards celebrate extraordinary teachers: those who are passionate about what they do; who add that extra special something to their teaching, and who inspire those they work with and teach.

Foluke said: "It is impossible to quantify or describe the immense validation that comes from being nominated for the Law Teacher of the Year award. It was an amazing experience to be at Celebrating Excellence in Law Teaching conference 2024 with a community of fellow finalists and other law academics.

“I remain exceptionally grateful to all the University of Bristol and Law School staff and students who have encouraged and supported me, not just in the process of this award, but in my work. I appreciate you all so very much.

All the nominees, my fellow finalists, and the eventually winner have admirably demonstrated that joy is possible and welcome in the classroom. Thanks to Oxford University Press and the judges for providing the space to celebrate that possibility.”

The conference included the showing of a film, produced by Oxford University Press, for each of the finalists – watch Foluke’s feature below:

Foluke set up the University of Bristol Law School’s ‘Law and Race’ module, which deepens students’ understanding of the nexus of law and race and the impact this has on their lives, alongside the transformative measures needed to affect meaningful change.

Foluke has also played a significant role in mentoring younger Black scholars, particularly women, including both students and academics at all career stages both within and outside Law.

In 2018, she established ‘Forever Africa Conference and Events’ (FACE), a student partnership project aiming to advance student-centred academic conversations around closing the attainment gap and related issues, and also received the Xn Foundation Award for ’Formidable Dedication and Innovative Pursuits for Africa’ in recognition of her support for BAME students.

“Foluke’s skills and knowledge have had an enormous impact on learning and teaching practice and policy at the University … they are a leader in the substantive development of decolonisation and practice at the University as well as mentoring others in its implementation.”

Find out more in the full Law Teacher of the Year award nomination statement on the Oxford University Press webpage.

Further information

Professor Foluke Ifejola Adebisi is Professor of Law at the University of Bristol Law School whose scholarship focuses on decolonial thought in legal education and its intersection with a history of changing ideas of the 'human.'

She co-designed the Law School's Law and Race unit, one of the very few of its kind within the UK.

She is the founder and Director of Forever Africa Conference and Events, and she writes about law, Africa, pedagogy and life in general at Foluke's African Skies.

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