Personal statement

Robert Collins is the Course Director for the Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) UG & PG programmes at the Strathclyde Institute of Education (SIoE).

He is the Chair of the Board of Examiners for UG & PG ITE courses within the Institute and is also the former Course Leader of the BA (Hons) Primary Education degree programme.

Robert is an established lead member of the Implementation Executive and SoIE Lead for the Universty's transdisciplinary Vertically Integrated Projects for Sustainable Development (VIP4SD) programme. He is also a co-founder of the esteemed Strathclyde Climate Ambassadors Network (StrathCAN).

Now in his second tenure as an elected member of University Senate, he serves as Senate Representative on the University's Education Strategy and Senate Discipline Committees.

He leads Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) matters within the HaSS Faculty Learning Enhancement Committee, is a regular moderator and chair of Faculty Courses Review Panel and is a member of the Faculty Student Discipline Committee. He is also External Examiner to Edgehill University's UG & PG ITE programmes.

Robert is a regular recipient of student nominations at the USSA Teaching Excellence Awards where he was presented with the award for Best Teacher in Faculty (HaSS) in 2016-17 and the University of Strathclyde's Inaugural Teaching Excellence Award in Education for Sustainable Development in 2023-24. He is also a recipient of both national and international UN Green Gowns Awards in 2019, 2020 & 2022 for his work in STEM Education, VIP4SD and ESD across the University.

Robert's international experience has included establishing VIP4SD outreach work in Gambia and an extended period away from University's main campus where he advised on international STEM programme development in the Middle East. 

His VIP4SD community project was recognised as sector-leading at International Consortium Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) and he was subsequently invited to present on this work at New York University (Tandon) and his widening access & inclusion work with Strathclyde students at the University of Southern California (Rossier).

An internationally recognised STEM Education and ESD specialist, holding advanced professional awards as a Registered Scientist (UK) as well as Chartered Science Teacher status, prior to joining Strathclyde Robert was a Senior Regional Development Officer for STEM, ESD and Digital Education and was seconded to work on national attainment research programmes with the Scottish Executive Education Department.

Recently he has participated in a consultation capacity on several groups by invitation of the Scottish Government regarding the development and pedagogical implementation of national polcy on Vision 2030: Learning for Sustainability.

A successful author and editor of peer-reviewed journal, with over thirty years of specialist experience and teaching, Robert has published widely within the areas of ITE, VIP4SD, STEM, ESD and Digital Education. He has a proven track record of research excellence and data-informed knowledge exchange activity emanating from his related studies at both national and international level.