Niel Barnes

Neil Barnes BSc (Hons), PGCE, PG CHEP, FHEA, MA

Head of Professional Accreditation and Quality

Key details

Neil Barnes

Head of Professional Accreditation and Quality


Neil entered the world of Higher Education as a mature student looking to professionalise his previous experiences of delivering adult training and education since the mid-1990s. After completing his BSc (Hons) studies, he turned to teaching, achieving his PGCE in 2010. Neil then progressed to an MA in Education and PG CHEP with a mix of blended and distance learning studies.

Alongside this Neil moved in lecturing on various programmes including Initial Teacher Education programmes following his interests in student achievement. Neil joined the University of Greenwich in June 2024, after a range of senior managerial positions such as Head of School and Director of Teaching and Learning giving Neil a background in both operational and strategic level decision-making within Higher Education Institutions.

Neil’s main background academic expertise is within the field of teacher training and Education and has held a series of related External Examiner posts at other HEIs around the UK in the past ten years.

Neil’s motivation at the University of Greenwich is to impact the student experience through his own non-traditional route back into education and to help all students reach their full potential within their studies.

Posts Held Previously

  • 2018 - 2024 Director of Teaching and Learning
  • 2016 - 2024 Head of School of Social Sciences (incorporating School of Education)
  • 2013 - 2016 Head of School of Education
  • 2012 - 2013 Programme leader ITE
  • 2009 - 2012 BTEC Programme Leader
  • 2007 - 2009 HNC/HND Course Tutor

Responsibilities within the university

  • Responsible for having a faculty level overview of the PSRB stakeholders to ensure compliance of on-going programmes and future validations
  • Having an overview of quality processes and quality improvements within the faculty

Recognition

  • HEA accredited External Examiner
  • Fellowship of Higher Education Academy
  • QTLS
  • Fellow of Society of Education and Training

Research / Scholarly interests

Neil’s research interests including student achievement; further education and teaching; and key progression points within a student’s academic life cycle.

Recent publications

  • Fuller, M., & Barnes, N. (2024). The Impact of ChatGPT on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Exploring the dual perspectives of participants who were students and teachers. New Directions for Higher Education, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/he.20507
  • Senior, L. and Barnes, N. (2023) ‘Are our further education colleges still an anchor in our society?’ London Review of Education, 21 (1), 8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14324/LRE.21.1.08