Mandy Lyons
MA, BSc (Hons), SFHEA, PGCE, RGN

Biography

Mandy has been part of the Solent Centre for Educational Excellence team since January 2023, when she became course leader academic practice, with responsibility for leading the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCLTHE). She also leads Solent’s accredited Experiential and Reflective Academic Practice route to Advance HE Fellowship (SOLERAP).

Following a long professional career as a registered nurse and midwife, and having led professional development for healthcare professionals in various roles within the NHS and private healthcare sector, Mandy made the transition to higher education as a lecturer in nursing at Solent in 2018. In 2019 she was promoted to course leader and achieved Senior Fellowship with Advance HE. She then led the redesign and re-accreditation of the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care programme, with a focus on development of the new role of nursing associates, a key part of the NHS workforce development plan. Having worked on the Health Education England pilot project for this new nursing role, this was an exciting professional opportunity for her.

During her time as course leader, students flourished; many of them had worked for several years as a healthcare assistant. Via the foundation degree course and a bridging programme, Mandy developed many who have now gone on to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register as fully registered nurses.

Mandy is particularly proud of how this programme has enhanced the career and lives of many people who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to attend university, as supporting equality of opportunity for success is a key professional value for her.

Throughout her career, she has led several initiatives to support professional development of staff, and is therefore passionate about her current role leading the development of those who teach and support Solent's diverse community of learners. She believes, by enhancing the knowledge, skills, values and confidence of those who teach, and support learning is how she able to positively influence the overall student experience at Solent.