Andrea Brown

I have enjoyed a varied career, having worked in marketing, operations, and training before education.

My first teaching experience was as an ESOL Tutor in Italy, before deciding to complete a PGCE (PCET) and an English Subject Specialist qualification with the University of Sunderland. I worked as a Skills Tutor teaching Functional Skills Maths and English for a charity provider, and later joined a large FE college as Personal Tutor, Lecturer and finally, as a Curriculum Manager. In this role, I was responsible for the provision within my department of FE, HE, and professional qualifications, as well as managing a team of lecturers.

I have experience as an external examiner and as an external quality assurer of vocational and professional qualifications. Such diverse experience is invaluable for my students as it brings to life the reality of working as an educator in the Further Education and Skills (FES) sector. I am passionate about teaching and the life-changing opportunities education can provide for people and feel lucky every day to be an educator in this dynamic sector.

I have a master's in Human Resource Management (MSc, Distinction), and my primary area of interest is qualitative research around mental wellbeing in the workplace.

I am the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion champion for the PCET/FES team and sit on a number of university networks in this capacity. My other interest is sustainability, and I am part of a university working group for sustainable curriculum.