Staff Directory - Nicky Hunter | Harper Adams University

Teaching Duties

Ecology/Environmental Biology/Behavioural Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife ID & Management to Countryside, Environment, Wildlife & Zoology students at all levels.
Ecology to BSc Animal Behaviour Welfare students and FdSc Animal Health and Welfare students
Pastoral Care for Years 1&2 Countryside, Environment, Wildlife and Geography students at both FdSc and BSc level

Research Interests

Animal ecology, wildlife biodiversity, protected animal species survey and management, conservation and habitat management. Also pedagogic studies involving teaching and learning at all levels.

I currently hold a Natural England Protected Species License for Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus) and am also gaining training on Bat ecology and am registered as a Natural England trainee volunteer bat worker.

Currently I am Director and have managed an innovative project called the Rural Education Action Programme (REAP) looking at providing Food and Farming Awareness training for trainee teachers and qualified teachers in both primary and secondary education across the UK. A module has now been validated to provide CPD training in this area for Primary teachers and is being be delivered nationally through our ReedNet (employer engagement) scheme via partner organisation such as Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) and the Countryside Foundation for Education (CfE).In partnership, REAP delivered land-based careers training for careers advisors in Secondary Schools.

Other environmental training for teachers and trainee teachers at all levels is currently being developed by staff as part of the REAP project.

2014, 2015 & 2016: Supervisor for small mammal research for the GOLD CREST AWARDS with Adams Grammar School, Newport

ASPIRE DEVELOPMEMT FELLOWSHIP AWARDS

In 2009-10, Jane Hill (Director of Learning Support) and myself worked on a project, supported through the Aspire Development Fellowship. The project looked at the students response to assignment feedback during the year. This research covered a sample of students from all courses and all levels across this institution and it intended to disseminate examples of good practice in supporting and enhancing the students learning experience.

Aspire: see Excellence Awards

Report: What is the range of assessment feedback provided by staff at Harper Adams University College and to what extent does the feedback help students to feed forward andimprove their educational or learning skills?

Aspire Fellowship Report (PDF)

2013-14: Aspire Development Fellowship to look at the effectiveness of feedback at Harper Adams University

2014-15: Two Aspire Development Fellowship Awards

With Simon Irvin delepment of a summative online exam for EFDP mopdule Countryside Studies
With Nigel Hill investigating the use and flexibility of using stylus written feedback on a tablet PC

2016-17:Aspire Development Fellowship Award

With Graham Higginson: A review of Digital Assessment and Feedback

Awards

In 2009 I was given the Aspire 'Widening Student Experience Award' (one of three awards nominated by students)
In 2011 I was given the Aspire 'Excellent Practice Award' (one of two awards nominated by students)
In 2013 I was given the Aspire 'Excellent Practice Award' (one of two awards nominated by students)
In 2014 I was given the Aspire 'Excellent Practice in Supporting Learning Award' (one of two awards nominated by students)

SHROPSHIRE DYSLEXIA EDUCATOR of the YEAR AWARD 2018-19

Our judges were impressed with our winners positive approach, her dyslexia awareness and passion for students achieving their potential. She is described as a champion and a shining example of how an HE tutor should be! She is one of the most passionate lecturers ever met, encouraging, empowering and excels in making students feel comfortable to access support. She meets students regularly to encourage them to get the very best form their learning journey. Her passion and enthusiasm for her students and their learning has a positive effect on the students. They describe her as being good at explaining things, that she makes lectures interesting, that she is a knowledgeable and excellent lecturer. All nominees stated that they felt strongly that this someone who deserves to win this award!

DOCTORATE RESEARCH

2012 - 2020: I am currently undertaking a part time Educational Doctorate (EdD) at Keele University in social sciences research focusing on pastoral care in higher education.

2016: Collection of data at both Harper Adams University and Keele Univerity

2018-2019: Data Analysis

Professional Memberships

Member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MICEEM)
Senior Fellow of the Higher Teaching Academy (SFHEA)t.
Member of the Shropshire Mammal Group
Member of the Shropshire Bat Group
Member of the NIA Meres and Mosses Community Steering group
Member of UK Advisors and Tutoring network (UKAT) Poster presentation on current research in 2015 at Annual Conference in Portmouth. Workshop presentation of my research at the UKAT Annual conference in Leeds in April 2017

Governor Profile

Former Staff elected Governor at Harpoer Adams University 2006-2014 (2 terms of office)

Academic Department: Agriculture and Environment

Tel: +44 (0)1952 815272

Fax: +44 (0)1952 814783

Twitter: @Wildlifehunter

Office: Tudor Lodge 1

Publications

Loading publication details from Food and Farming Futures...

Harper Adams University supports Food and Farming Futures, the online land-based library.

Other publications

Nicky Hunter, Jane Hill and Sarah Gabbitas, Harper Adams University College (2012) Assessment feedback and learning skills: A research project to improve development and policy practice CREST (HEA) 2012: Defining research-led teaching (Avalaible from : http://crest.ac.uk/defining-research-led-teaching/)
Bellas, J.M. and Hunter, N.J. (2010) Do onshore wind farms have a detrimental effect on bat populations? Results of an opinion survey on the effects of onshore wind farms on bats.
Undergraduate dissertation research
Hunter, N.J. and Irvin, S. (2009) Assessing newt populations in ponds at Harper Adams
A summary account of a detailed survey which investigated newt populations in ponds at Harper Adams.
Harper Adams University College (2009) Project report - 2 pages

Additional Information

Other Roles

External Examiner for SRUC MSc Countryside Management (validated by the University of Glasgow)
Staff member on Learning, Teaching and Student Expereince Committee
Internal Assessor for HEA PSF at Harper Adams University and review of Fellowship and Senior Fellowship applications for HEA
Course Tutor for the Countryside, Environment, Wildlife and Geography Courses at Harper Adams
Corporate Membership University link with our local Shropshire Wildlife Trust
August 2016: STEM AMBASSADOR (Stafforshire Hub)

I have also initiated several children’s events at Harper, such as the Children’s University and the Easter School and have an interest in environmental education at all levels.