Dr Deeba Parmar

Interim Head of the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement, Middlesex University. EdD, MSc, PGCHE, BSc, SFHEA

Professional Profile

My career has been driven by my passions of fostering and creating a culture of support, recognising and rewarding practice through motivating, developing and nurturing colleagues pedagogic and career development to enhance the student experience. Within my current role as Head of the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement I provide vision and leadership to operationalise a series of priority strands including reward and recognition through our internal Professional Recognition scheme, National Teaching Fellowship and the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence, equality, diversity and inclusion within the curriculum and personal tutoring. I am focused on authentic collaboration between academic and professional services to harness expertise to enhance the learning and teaching experience.

Employment History

• Interim Head of the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement, Middlesex University (September 2022 – present)
• Head of Academic Practice Enhancement, Middlesex University (December 2013 – September 2022)
• Senior Research Fellow, Middlesex University (December 2008 – November 2013)
• Research Fellow, Middlesex University (October 2003 – November 2008)
• Research Assistant, Middlesex University (July 2002 – Sept 2003)

Education and Professional Recognition

• Senior Fellow of the HEA (SFHEA) (2014)
• Post graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PG Cert HE) (2013), Middlesex University
• Doctorate in Education (EdD) (2012), Middlesex University Focusing on early students’ withdrawal and strategies for success

• Introduction to Leadership Programme (2009) Middlesex University and The Leadership Foundation in HE 

• Masters of Science (MSc) Research Methodology (2002), Nottingham Trent University
• Bachelors of Science (BSc) Social Sciences (2000), Nottingham Trent University

External Examining Experience

• Bath Spa University, External Reviewer for ProSpace Scheme (PSF), 2023 – present
• Advance HE Accreditor (Professional Standards Framework), 2022 – present
• University of Derby, External Reviewer for Pathfinder Scheme (PSF), 2022 – present
• University of Winchester, External for Validation of MA Higher Education, 2022.
• Advance HE reviewer for National Teaching Fellowships, 2018 – present

Selected research and project work

2018 – 2022      Inclusive Curriculum Framework (ICF)

Institution wide global campus leadership focusing on equity, equality, diversity and inclusion within all aspects of the curriculum design and delivery.

2017 – 2020      Language and Culture Exchange (LCE)

Establishing and leading an award winning campus wide peer-to-peer language and culture exchange 

2011 – 2013      Transforming E-assessment for Learning (TeAL)

Institutional research with the institution wide move to e-submission, e-marking and                  e-feedback – HEA funded Showcase event

2010 – 2012      Embedding Employability

Institutional research, shaping an institution wide employability award

2007 – 2012      An exploration of student and staff perceptions of factors behind early student withdrawal among first year undergraduate students at one post 1992 Higher Education Institution. Doctoral research        

2009 – 2011       E-Learning and the First Year Student Experience (ELYFSE) – £10,000. Higher Education Academy funded Special Interest Group

2007-2009        Managing Connections using e-learning tracking data to improve retention rates in Higher Education. Higher Education Academy funded project – £35,000

Selected publications

• McIntosh, E., Gallacher, D., and Chapman, A. (2022) A whole of institution approach – what does a culture of advising and tutoring really involve?  In Lochtie, D, McIntosh, E, Stork, A and Walker, B. (Eds) The Higher Education Personal Tutor’s and Advisor’s Companion: Translating Theory into Practice to Improve Student Success. Critical Publishing.
• Gallacher, D., Torrance., N., Reid., C., Mimirinis., M., and Chapman, A. (2013) Assessing with E-ase. Middlesex University.
• Anagnostopoulou, K. and Parmar, D. (Eds) (2010) Supporting the First Year Student Experience through the Use of Learning Technologies. Middlesex University & The Higher Education Academy. Available online at http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/learningandtech/communities/ELFYSE_Anagnostopoulou_Parmar_2010.pdf  
• Anagnostopoulou, K., Parmar, D. and Priego-Hernandez, J. (2009) An exploration of perceptions of learning and e-learning held by students who withdraw and those who persist with UK higher education. Brookes e-Journal of learning and teaching, 2 (4). Available at: http://bejlt.brookes.ac.uk/article/an_exploration_of_perceptions_of_learning_and_e_learning/
• Anagnostopoulou, K and Gallacher, D (2008) Practical guide: bringing together e-learning and student retention. Middlesex University. ISBN 9781859243015

Selected conferences, workshops/webinars and speaking events

• Gallacher, D and Appiah, S. (2023) Panel: Widening access, participation and representation: how to take meaningful action on EDI. Evolving Higher Education, Virtual Conference 21-22^nd March 2023.
• Gallacher, D., and Ajayi, Simbo. (2023) Advance HE Launch of the Professional Standards Framework. AHE Webinar held on 31^st January 2023. Invited speaker.
• Quine. T., (University of Exeter), Bennett, N., (Fika), McIntosh, E., (Middlesex University) and & Gallacher, D., (Middlesex University) and Hoole, S. (JISC.) (2021) What have we learnt from the experiences of spring 2020 about best digital practice for 2030? February Teaching & Learning Programme, JISC Webinar held on 25^th February 2021. Invited Speaker.
• McIntosh, E., (Middlesex University); Gallacher, D., (Middlesex University); Chapman, A. (Middlesex University). (2021) A Whole of Institution Approach – What Does a Culture of Advising & Tutoring Really Involve?  Festival of Effective Advising and Tutoring. UKAT Conference, UKAT Webinar held on 1-4^th September 2021.
• Boddington, J., and Gallacher, D. (2016) Behind the Themes: Looking for the learning and teaching enhancements that underpin satisfaction across the realm of the NSS questions. NSS Surveys for Enhancements Conference. 17^th September 2016.
• Cunningham, S., and Gallacher, D. (2013) Empowering bioscience students to develop employability skills through volunteering. Paper presented at the HEA STEM Annual Conference, Birmingham, 16-17 April 2013.
• Reid, C., Parmar, D., and Chapman, A. (2012) Transforming e-assessment for Learning: Developing an institution wide scaffold. Workshop presented as a part of the Higher Education Academy Workshop and Seminar Series 2012, Middlesex University, 1 May 2012.
• Parmar, D. (2012) Using online tools to support students’ transition. Invited speaker at London Met Induction planning event, 16 January 2012.
• Parmar, D. (2011) A case study approach to enhancing the student experience. Invited keynote presentation for Inclusivity SIG, King’s College London, 15 November 2011.