Teaching Excellence Award for University of Salford’s Head of Radiography

The University of Salford’s Dr Claire Mercer has been awarded a prestigious 2025 National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) from Advance HE.

Claire, who is the Head of Radiography within the University’s School of Health and Society, is one of 61 National Teaching Fellows to be awarded this year. All the winners are acknowledged by Advance HE for their outstanding contribution to excellent teaching and inspiring colleagues in higher education.

Claire’s prestigious award recognises her dedication to promoting excellence in education in radiography over the course of the last decade. Her outstanding collaboration skills, along with strong leadership and a unique ability to inspire and motivate, have empowered students and staff in the field of radiography at Salford and across the sector.

Claire’s work has had a profound influence on the radiography curriculum, graduate outcomes, and the student experience, with effects that are both significant and far-reaching

In addition, her collaborative work with healthcare providers to develop the curriculum in unique and ground-breaking partnerships has contributed directly to transformative civic engagement and growth, with a positive impact on student numbers, directly responding to the NHS need for diagnostic radiographers in the region.

Claire’s leading role in developing Salford’s cutting-edge £2.87 million Centre for Medical Imaging has had a profound impact on both education and employability, setting new standards for the region and country and putting Salford at the forefront of education in this area. This led to Claire being awarded 2024 University of Salford Entrepreneur of the Year for her forward-thinking cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Professor Jess Power, Director of Learning and Teaching and the University Teaching Excellence Awards Lead, said “Claire has spearheaded Learning and Teaching and has really been a true ambassador for the advancement of radiography education. The NTF is so richly deserved, we are absolutely delighted for Claire.”

Claire said: “I am truly honoured and humbled to receive a National Teaching Fellowship. This prestigious recognition celebrates my entrepreneurial approach to education, but also the transformative power of collaboration, partnership, and teamwork. It reflects a shared commitment with colleagues, students, and healthcare partners to drive innovation and excellence to create a meaningful and lasting impact within radiography education”.

Advance HE’s annual National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) scheme and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) announcements are widely recognised key indicators of excellence in teaching and learning.

Kathryn Harrison-Graves, Deputy Chief Executive at Advance HE said, “We are delighted to announce the 2025 awards to those with an unwavering commitment to teaching excellence.

“These newly awarded National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams represent the very best of UK higher education, demonstrating remarkable innovation, dedication and impact on student learning. Their achievements not only benefit their own institutions but inspire excellence across the entire sector. At a time when higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these awards celebrate the transformative power of outstanding teaching and collaboration.”

Professor Becky Huxley-Binns, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Canterbury Christ Church University, and chair of the teaching excellence awards panel, said, “These awards represent the very best of higher education during a crucial moment. As our sector faces its greatest challenges, these exceptional educators have risen to meet them with innovation, dedication and excellence that simply couldn’t be ignored.

“The unusually high number of NTFS awards this year isn’t just recognition of individual achievement – it’s a testament to the remarkable resilience and quality of our teaching community. These fellowships celebrate educators who don’t just deliver knowledge, but transform lives, inspire futures and demonstrate that even in uncertain times, educational excellence not only endures but flourishes.”

View the full list of 2025 winners of the National Teaching Fellowship here.

The 2025 awards ceremony will take place on 25 September in Bristol, hosted by incoming Advance HE Chief Executive, Alistair Jarvis.