Thank you for taking the time to visit. I am Dr Chris Dows, and this site is intended to give you a brief overview of the many HE programme and CPD, educational project management and related services I offer. While my greatest experience is in the development of Higher Education courses and strategies within Further Education, as an academic with over twenty years of teaching experience ranging from Level 2 to Level 7 and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I feel well placed to advise you on a wide range of practical issues connected with programme, module and assessment design as well as many quality and support systems.

If you are an FE organisation thinking of expanding to HE, perhaps a feasibility study might be of use to you. I have already undertaken two extensive surveys for Morley College in London and King Edward VI College at Nuneaton, and I can help you prepare your staff and assist in the development of suitable, relevant HE courses. If you are an established HE provider and need help in managing your Access or HE faculties or in devising or expanding programmes for Arts, Humanities or any other creative or vocational area, this is also within my remit. I have extensive experience of developing everything from National Diplomas through to HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees and Masters programmes as well as extensive Access to HE experience and my current work on the HEFCE-funded AoC Scholarship Project has given me a national insight into the changing role of HE within FE, particularly in relation to the TEF.

 

I have been a specialist tutor for a wide range of theoretical and practical subjects, and while my background is in Media-related vocational teaching, I have extensive knowledge of FE and HE development across a wide subject range and am fully conversant with all current levels and modes of FE and HE delivery. In addition to teaching materials and course design, I can give a practical, working insight into quality issues connected with delivering HE courses, including codes of practice and regulations on all aspects connected with designing a course, academic support and pastoral care. My experience as an external examiner has given me a holistic view of HE, and I fully appreciate the many problems individuals and teams experience when they begin their developmental journey. A little bit of information or direction at the right time can prevent significant and costly mistakes in the future, and my aim is to ensure all of my clients are both forewarned and forearmed with regards to the realities of HE development. I can also help to evaluate and develop existing programmes, assessments, quality systems and teaching materials. Please feel free to explore this site and contact me if you require further information or have a problem you feel I may be able to help with.