Imperial educator wins prestigious national teaching fellowship

Dr Tiffany Chiu has been awarded the National Teaching Fellowship by AdvanceHE.

Dr Chiu, Principal Teaching Fellow in Educational Development at the Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship, is recognised as one of this year’s National Teaching Fellows.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates those in higher education who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and teaching. Those who have been recognised become part of a community of over 1,000 Fellows representing their institutions.

Commenting on her award, Dr Chiu said: “I am delighted to have been awarded one of this year’s National Teaching Fellowships. I am enormously grateful to the many colleagues and students I have had the privilege of working with. In particular, working in partnership with our StudentShapers has been inspirational and critical in making sure that our innovations are authentic and grounded in students’ lived experiences.”

Tiffany has been awarded the Fellowship for her outstanding impact on student success, belonging and inclusion in higher education. Through her leadership, she has developed evidence-based initiatives that help students navigate the transition to university, build confidence and thrive academically, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

...Working in partnership with our StudentShapers has been inspirational and critical in making sure that our innovations are authentic and grounded in students’ lived experiences. Dr Tiffany Chiu

Her work has transformed practice at Imperial and beyond. Tiffany led the award-winning Supporting the Identity Development of Underrepresented Students (SIDUS) project, whose resources addressing belonging and imposter syndrome have been distributed to and adopted by universities and educational organisations across the UK. She has also led initiatives focused on student transition and wellbeing, supporting thousands of students while helping shape institutional policy and practice.

Alongside her work with students, Tiffany has had a significant influence on teaching and learning across the sector. She translated her research on the ‘ideal student’ into an evidence-informed initiative that has been adopted across Imperial departments and other universities, supporting students by making expectations of university study more transparent and inclusive. These educational resources have reached audiences nationally and internationally. Her work has helped foster more inclusive, student-centred approaches to learning and teaching, benefiting both educators and students far beyond the classroom.

Professor Alan Spivey, Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience), said: "Dr Chiu's Fellowship is a well-deserved recognition of her exceptional contribution to education. She has consistently championed a more inclusive and supportive learning environment, combining rigorous research with a genuine commitment to improving the experiences of both students and staff. Her work exemplifies the values of educational excellence and collaboration that are central to our community."

"Tiffany's ideas and initiatives have influenced teaching practice, shaped institutional approaches to student support, and empowered learners from a wide range of backgrounds to succeed. We are delighted to see her achievements recognised through this prestigious national award."

The Fellowship was officially presented at a formal celebration event in Edinburgh in September 2026. On congratulating this year’s Fellowship recipients, Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive, said: “At this time of year we are beginning to see new cohorts of students arrive at universities across the UK, at the very start of experiences that will shape their thinking, their choices and their future. Excellent teaching sits at the centre of that.

“National Teaching Fellows and CATE recipients aren’t simply being recognised for excellent teaching today; you’re helping to lead the sector’s thinking on how we prepare students for what comes next.

“Sharing that thinking is something all of us in this room have a stake in, to give colleagues and students alike the support they need.”