Educational Leadership
Name:
Department:
Hospitality & Tourism Management
Biography:
Prior to joining Ulster University, Nikki was the co-founder of a successful local business and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy she is passionate about student progression and providing our economy and wider society with citizen-graduates who know they are emerging leaders, professional and work-ready. Her approach to educational leadership is driven through providing a positive and enhanced student learning experience from an academic, social and employability perspective. This is only enabled by earning the trust of her course team. Sustained purposeful leadership is impossible without the commitment of a student-centred academic team. Nikki believes that impactful transformative leadership results through leading mindfully, a collaborative community of practice with her academic peers and colleagues. The team is focused on delivering impactfully on our student experience. This transformative leadership is evidenced by the implementation of student engagement initiatives contributing to an NSS score of 100%. These activities include a peer mentoring programme, enhanced induction, co-creating a student-centred social enterprise and establishing an annual student conference. Nikki is currently leading a faculty (UUBS) curriculum integrated final year workshop pilot to enhance student resilience and encourage mindful leadership in final year students prior to graduation. The highlight of her leadership is partnering students and colleagues in co-creating authentic learning environments. This learning develops individual student confidence to be the best version of themselves, empowering Ulster University Business School graduates to contribute positively to their professional communities and wider society.