The Ukraine Narrative - A perspective on continued professional development.
Authors:
Calum Thomson
(University of Salford)
,
Davina Whitnall
(University of Salford)
,
Daria Ivashchenko
(State University of Trade and Economics in Kiev)
,
Vladimir Tokar
(State University of Trade and Economics in Kiev)
,
Dean Irwin
(University of Salford)
,
Jess Power
(University of Salford)
Publications
The Ukraine Narrative - A perspective on continued professional development.
Authors:
Calum Thomson
(University of Salford), Davina Whitnall(University of Salford),
Daria Ivashchenko
(State University of Trade and Economics in Kiev),
Vladimir Tokar
(State University of Trade and Economics in Kiev),
Dean Irwin
(University of Salford),
Jess Power
(University of Salford)
<p class="MsoNormal">Davina Whitnall is the Researcher Development Manager at theUniversity of Salford and a writer, and coach. With over 20 years of experiencein organisational development and more than 13 years in higher education, she hasa wealth of expertise in supporting researcher-led activities and developingconfidence and leadership skills.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Davina holds a BA in Education and a Master of Science inOrganisational Development. She has authored two books: “ER Stories - EnablingResearchers Stories” and “Ketchup - The Confidence Developing Condiment.” Herresearch interests include pedagogy, personal development, and publicengagement in research and science. Davina is a Fellow of the Higher EducationAcademy and is working towards Senior Fellowship status.<o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">APVC L&T Enhancement and Professor of Learning and Teaching at The University of Salford. She is the academic lead for the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Centre (LTEC). She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of The Textile Institute, Fellow of Chartered Management Institute, and a National Teaching Fellow (2016). Professor Power has over 20 years teaching experience and has contributed extensively to the development of learning and teaching innovation both in her subject discipline (fashion/textiles) and more widely across HE. She is an advocate for using evidenced based research approaches to make significant impact regionally, nationally and internationally. Jess has led a variety of internally and externally funded research projects and has published widely with over 100 national/international publications/keynotes. She is an experienced PHD/DBA supervisor and has examined widely nationally and internationally.</span><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">Jess is particularly interested in contributing to shaping the future of Higher Education through interdisciplinarity working. Her innovative approach bridges disciplines and has resulted in best practice models for integrating interdisciplinarity into learning and teaching. Her focus on interdisciplinarity has enabled her to transform the student experience by creating networks for individuals who share the common goal of transferring knowledge beyond the boundaries of their own disciplines, whilst developing employability and enterprising skills.</span><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">Jess holds the position of Honorary Secretary for The Textile Institute (the international professional body, active in over 90 different countries) and has previously served on the Publications Committee and Professional Accreditation Committee. This enables her to share sectoral knowledge by regularly mentoring overseas’ institutions in developing short commercial courses, thus enhancing industry standards. Her expertise and specialist knowledge spans both fashion and textiles and crosses into other disciplines (health, engineering, education and business). This is evidenced through her sustained publication portfolio which demonstrates high quality research with impact for the commercial and wider HE sector. Further to this she is an Associate of the Entrepreneurial Leaders Programme and part of the Leadership Committee for the Group for Learning in Art and Design (GLAD). This is a national group promoting and supporting pedagogic good practice within the art and design sector).</span><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">Her recent projects have formed blueprints for innovation and have been widely disseminated through a series of high profile case studies and have been nationally and internationally recognised as good practice.</span><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><br style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: Muli, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">Currently Jess is leading a small team of Academic Developers and Learning Technologists within the University of Salford's Learning and Teaching Enhancement Centre.</span>
This is an accepted article with a DOI pre-assigned that is not yet published.
The recent conflict in Ukraine has disrupted highereducation, making continued professional development (CPD) a challenge due todisplacement of educators, internet disruption, and limited access toresources. In response, the University of Salford Learning and TeachingEnhancement Centre collaborated with colleagues at the State University ofTrade and Economics (Kiev, Ukraine) to share experience, practice andresources.
Together, we developed a comprehensive guide with a completeset of learning resources supporting reflection and development of pedagogicpractice in learning design, teaching, assessment, feedback, vocational andtechnical education, and learning technologies. This resource was unveiled atan online launch event in September 2023 to 38 staff at our partnerinstitution. A year later, we have begun to assess the impact of this resource.Interviews, meetings, and surveys have revealed how these resources wereadapted to local needs and priorities to influence the student experience andfacilitated self-reflection and professional development despite thechallenging circumstances.
This paper highlighted the impact of this global partnershipthrough the inspiring professional development stories which have emerged. Itdemonstrates the resilience of academic communities in adversity, the power ofshared knowledge and how these resources have supported necessary changes inpractice amidst post-pandemic and conflict disruption.
Keywords: International partnership, continuing professional development, educational technology, global citizenship
Thomson,
C , Whitnall,
D , Ivashchenko,
D , Tokar,
V , Irwin,
D & Power,
J.
(2025) 'The Ukraine Narrative - A perspective on continued professional development.',
Pedagogy: The LTEC Learning and Teaching Showcase.
doi: 10.57898/pedagogy.274
Thomson,
C , Whitnall,
D , Ivashchenko,
D , Tokar,
V , Irwin,
D & Power,
J.
The Ukraine Narrative - A perspective on continued professional development.. Pedagogy: The LTEC Learning and Teaching Showcase. 2025 2;
doi: 10.57898/pedagogy.274
Thomson,
C Whitnall,
D Ivashchenko,
D Tokar,
V Irwin,
D
& Power,
J.
(2025, 2 13). The Ukraine Narrative - A perspective on continued professional development..
Pedagogy: The LTEC Learning and Teaching Showcase
doi: 10.57898/pedagogy.274
(University of Salford)
,
Daria Ivashchenko
(State University of Trade and Economics in Kiev)
,
Vladimir Tokar
(State University of Trade and Economics in Kiev)
,
Dean Irwin
(University of Salford)
,
Jess Power