On Tuesday 3 June 2025, we had the pleasure of celebrating a very special group of graduates—the 2023–24 cohort of the Master’s in Education (MEd) in University Learning and Teaching at Imperial College London.
This graduation marks the end of a challenging and rewarding journey. Over the past few years, our graduates have worked through a three-stage programme—starting with the Postgraduate Certificate, moving through the Postgraduate Diploma, and culminating in the Master’s in Education in University Learning and Teaching. And they’ve done it all while balancing their studies with their day jobs as staff members across Imperial.
Throughout the programme, these educators have dived into complex educational research, developed fresh perspectives on teaching and learning in higher education, and tackled the big questions about how we teach, why we teach, and how we can do it better. Their final dissertations reflect just that—rich, thoughtful, and deeply practical work grounded in their day-to-day realities at Imperial.
Special recognition goes to two graduates whose dissertations were honoured for exemplifying academic excellence and demonstrating exceptional insight:
- Dr Joel Smith – MEd Dissertation Prize
- Dr Deepak Barnabas – MEd Dissertation Prize
These awards highlight work that reflects a strong commitment to critical inquiry and the enhancement of educational practice. They recognise critical thinking, creativity, and a deep commitment to improving the student experience at Imperial and beyond.
We also want to extend a huge heartfelt congratulations to Dr Kate Ippolito, who reached a major milestone of her own this year by completing her PhD. Alongside her leadership of Imperial’s Educational Development Unit’s programmes, Kate has been pursuing her doctorate part-time through the Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship (CHERS). Her achievement is a powerful reminder that learning never really ends—even for those who teach others how to teach.
Based on case studies of collaborative UG learning from across Imperial, Kate’s PhD thesis explores how students and their teachers learn to navigate interacting cognitive and emotional challenges in demanding STEMM academic contexts. It offers a timely and nuanced way to critically consider the complex and contradictory roles of emotion in higher education, as universities endeavour to address wellbeing concerns, whilst creating challenging and meaningful learning opportunities.
Read more about Dr Ippolito’s research: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72656-w
This graduation is more than a celebration of individual milestones—it is a reflection of a shared commitment to the future of education at Imperial. The knowledge, critical reflection, and innovations developed through this programme are already enriching practice and shaping the landscape of higher education.
To all our graduates—congratulations. We’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved. Your dedication is shaping the future of education, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.