Goldsmiths - University of London

Mary-Claire Halvorson

Mary Claire has worked in the University of London since March 1978. Her duties include responsibility for academic staff development and  bespoke work with academic departments. As leader for the PG Cert in the Management of Learning and Teaching, she has written a chapter about accrediting prior experiential learning for the book called ‘Recognising Learning’.

She is the Institutional Coordinator for EU LifeLong Learning Erasmus programme, widening the student and staff experience through foreign exchange and was a partner in the project, ‘Adding Quality to Life Through Inter- Generational Learning via Universities.  Recent cconsultancy work includes the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Helsinki Consortium of Universities and the European Universities Continuing Education Network, and the Finnish Ministry of Education. In  2005, she became  the College representative on the St Gabriel's Trust, ongoing. Since 2001, Mary-Claire has been on the International Editorial Board of the Journal Life Long Learning in Europe.

Academic qualifications

1995 Diploma in Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing

1994 MBA Masters Business Administration, University of Westminster

1982 Dip Lib and MA in Library and Information Science, University College London

1979 MSc Politics and Sociology, Birkbeck College London

1977 University of London Extra-Mural Diploma courses in International Law, International Economics,International Relations and International History.

1974 BEd and Secondary School Teaching Certificate State license, Carroll, Wisconsin, USA (Schiller College, London, third year abroad, 1972-73).

Teaching

• PG Certificate in Management of Learning and Teaching (HEA accredited)  Goldsmiths course leader- observe teaching as part of assessment and provide tutorials for academics
• The Graduate School - teach sessions on the  Academic Practice course. (HEA accredited) Ongoing collaboration in delivering sessions for the Research Office.
• Pilot Academic Practice programme (2005-06)
• PG Diploma and MA in Management of Learning and Teaching from 2010 Course Leader
• MA in Education - Course Leader and delivered two modules (from 1998 to 2004)
• MA Adult Learning: Principles and Practice and Curriculum and Culture (from 1992)
• Drama - MA Theatre Administration and Cultural Policy  (from 2001- 2005)
• Media and Communications BA – devised the Methods module 
• Co-teach provision on ‘Coaching and Mentoring’, ongoing

Grants & awards

Goldsmiths Peake Teaching Excellence Award Recipient 2008

Goldsmiths Centre for Excellence in Learning Technology Fellowship 2003-2004

Goldsmiths Centre for Excellence in Learning Technology Fellowship 2002-2003

Professional activities

External Examining

External Examiner (2003-2007) for the London Metropolitan University Certificate in Education for staff run at Chelsea and Kensington College.
Twice external expert for validation panels at Croydon College for the Certificate in Education (post compulsory) taken by their staff.
Birkbeck College Summative Assessor for the Academic Staff (from 2007) Award in Lifelong Learning - Compulsory programme for Birkbeck Academic staff.
External examiner (from 2007) for London Metropolitan University’s MA in Education.

Other relevant experience

• HEA Subject Centre for Education  - Escalate - College representative
• Responsibility for the EU Lifelong Learning Erasmus budgets through the European Institutional Contract (including responsibilities for writing the documentation), along with the Goldsmiths European Policy Statement and an annual bid for funding
• Member of the National ECOTOC Thematic Networking Group 2  ‘Continuous training of learning professionals' since April 2008.
• ALPINE project  leader of the Curriculum Group.
• Grundtvig 4 programme Equipe- European Quality in Individualised Pathways in Education -full partner (2002-2005) Equipe Plus consultant 2005-2008
• ADD LIFE Full partner ‘Adding Quality to Life Through Inter- Generational Learning via Universities http://add-life.uni-graz.at   Toolkit and CD now available in 5 EU languages.
• Founding member of the planning group for the HEFCE-funded ‘94 Group Senior Management development programme. Facilitated and developed guidelines and action learning sets for senior university staff from the member universities for the duration of the project and developed other curriculum based work nationally for best practice in management development.
• Originated and convened the University of London Group on Academic Practice : a network that exchanged experience on developments in pedagogy and shared best practice. Joint author with Professor Gregory of an article on key academic staff development issues arising from our presentation at a national conference on quality.
• ALLUME EU Learning project 2009-2012

Conferences

September 2006: HEA National Psychology Network: Key issues facing teaching staff in Higher Education.

September 2008: Keynote speech: Effective Adult Learning and Curriculum Development. Belgrade. Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

January 2009: Plenary Chair and Respondant: ‘Participation in Learning and Life History’. Helsinki, Finland for the KVS Foundation.