Maths lecturer named Teacher of the Year by Times Higher Education
University of Greenwich Maths lecturer Tony Mann has been awarded the prestigious prize of Most Innovative Teacher of the Year by Times Higher Education Magazine. Under Tony’s leadership, the mathematics department at Greenwich has shot up the league tables and, this year, maths students at Greenwich gave the university a 100% rating for student satisfaction.
The Times Higher Education judges recognised Tony Mann’s inspiring approach, which brings maths alive for a diverse group of students, saying: “Mann has rare qualities and makes a difference to students’ lives through outstanding teaching.” They also commended the way in which coming to Greenwich transforms the employment prospects of Tony’s students. Graduates have gone on to outstanding PhDs and distinguished mathematical and statistical careers in the City and elsewhere.
The secret of that success is the way in which Tony and his teaching colleagues adopt innovative ways to help students learn. A new first year course looks beyond the typical curriculum to subjects such as topology, quantum mechanics and relativity. Freshers also enjoy tackling working together on mathematical modelling problems, which also help them to make friends and find out all about the campus and local area. Second years tear up their usual timetable for an intense week applying maths to complex real-world issues such as containing the spread of infectious diseases.
Tony and his fellow academics have built a supportive and collaborative atmosphere through initiatives such as online groups, a drop-in maths cafe, peer mentoring and maths-related social activities. “This helps to motivate learning and create enthusiasm for mathematics, of boosting student retention and achievement,” says Tony.
He adds: “I’m passionate about maths. The challenge for me to is to find new and adventurous ways of sharing that passion with students. Many of our students have overcome amazing challenges to get to university at all. I encourage them to aspire to good degrees and good jobs.
“I enjoy their diversity and I love to see them flourish and find out what they can achieve. It’s wonderful to see them emerge as capable and articulate mathematicians and statisticians, who can communicate beyond the narrow confines of these disciplines to make a difference in the wider world.”
Tony has a national reputation for his innovative methods of teaching mathematics. He was made a National Teaching Fellow in 2008 and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is also President of the British Society for the History of Mathematics and a member of the Council of the UK Mathematics Trust.
The University of Greenwich has been a regular at the Times Higher prize ceremonies in recent years. Professor Mike Bradley from the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, part of the School of Engineering, was also shortlisted last night, in the category of Outstanding Contribution to Innovation & Technology. His team has developed a Powder Flowability Tester which has the potential to cut manufacturing costs by millions of pounds each year. Only this spring, the university won the overall prize for Outstanding International Strategy in the magazine’s Leadership & Management Awards. Last year, Professor Chris Bailey's group in the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences was named Outstanding Engineering Research Team.
Tessa Blackstone, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, says: "I am delighted that Tony’s Mann’s achievements have been recognised in this way. His success is testimony to the hard work and commitment of this truly inspirational teacher, who is making a real and very practical difference to students in this university.”
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