Dr

Michael Drayson

Personal statement

Mike is a Senior Lecturer in Academic Professional Development within the School of Education at Bath Spa. His main responsibilities relate to supporting and developing staff in the area of learning and teaching in HE. This entails leading modules, as well as teaching within the MA Professional Practice in HE and the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education for new and developing staff, and dissertation supervision. Mike also leads on D1/2 pathways through the PRO-SPACE HEA recognition/accreditation scheme, as well as leading on assessor training, and mentors, assessors and applicants for fellowship recognition (D1-3).

Mike is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) (Fellow 2008-2018), a Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), and is actively engaged in continuing professional development/lifelong learning.

Prior to his arrival at Bath Spa, Mike worked at Roehampton University (2004-2006), and for 14 years at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. In this time, Mike progressed from Visiting, to Associate, to full-time Lecturer, and finally Senior Lecturer (2012-18). His teaching spanned foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, including dissertation supervision. This entailed teaching Sport Science, Sociology of Sport, Coaching Science, and Research Methods, alongside an active engagement in pedagogy, teaching and learning, and broader institutional matters.

Mike has played rugby union for 30+ years, including spells in the 1st XV at Rosslyn Park, CS Rugby 1863, and Enköpings RK (among others), and has coached men's, women's, and youth level rugby in the UK and in Europe.

Academic qualifications

• EdD Professional Doctorate in Education, Nottingham Trent University
• PGDip Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Surrey, Roehampton
• MA Sport and Culture, University of Surrey, Roehampton
• BSc (Hons) Sport Science with Irish Studies, University of Surrey, St Mary’s College

Recent professional development 

• Personal Development for External Examiners, AdvanceHE (*Oct 2023)
• Hypnotherapy in Practice, DipCHyp (2023)
• Understanding Coding, Level 2 (2022)
• Mental Health Fist Aider, MHFA England (2021)
• Lean Organisation Management, Level 2 (2021)
• Counselling Skills, Level 2 (2020)
• Supporting and Leading Educational Change, SEDA (2020)

Other qualifications

• RFU, Rugby Coach (Level 2)
• RFU, Rugby Coach (Level 1)
• RFU, Start Rugby
• SAQ Trainer

Professional memberships

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Fellow, Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA)
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy (HEA) (2008-2018)

Areas of expertise

• Learning and teaching in Higher Education
• Sociology of Education
• Sociology of Sport