Neil Sutherland
Biography
After spending my formative years touring across the world in DIY punk bands, I have taken the not-so-obvious career progression of teaching and writing about the theory and practice of organisations. It was through those early experiences that I became fascinated not only with processes of organising, but with the importance of community building and collaborative work. Since then, my practice has focussed on the development of ‘alternative’ forms of management that can help facilitate more participative and democratic groups. I still play in DIY punk bands.
I joined the UCL in 2022 with the primary role of supporting 100+ Teaching Assistants, focusing on the development of pedagogic practice and career enhancement. This involves understanding the wider HE climate, cutting-edge classroom practice, and an ethic of care.
I am a dedicated and passionate educator: a Senior Fellow of the HEA with over a decade in Higher Education Institutes. I am an experienced Programme Leader and Module Director and hold a range of education-focussed responsibilities, including leading the UG module Innovation Management in Year Three. I write for academic journals and books as well as reaching wider audiences, particuarly through YouTube.
KEY INSIGHTS:
- In my first year as ‘School Director for Teaching Assistant Development’, there was an 93% increase in satisfaction rates amongst TAs, and a 11% increase in AF/FHEA recognitions.
- I have established and run the ‘UCL PGTA Management Network’ - connecting colleagues across UCL and running institutional-wide workshops and idea exchanges on key topics.
- My academic support YouTube channel - ‘Neil’s Common Room’ - has 10,000 views since 2022: https://tinyurl.com/2c7zau9f
- Watch my 2023 central UCL MicroCPD session on ‘Writing engaging Feedback’ here: https://tinyurl.com/amvj7sfv
- 2021 book published ‘Organisational Ethnography: An experiential and practical guide’ (w/ J.Pandeli and H.Gaggiotti)