Curriculum Leader Steve Williams and Lecturer Gerard Morgan from the Electronic Engineering department at Gower College Swansea have been awarded one of seven highly competitive Technical Teaching Fellowships for 2025/26.
These prestigious awards are made jointly by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
Steve and Gerard’s joint Fellowship will look at their WorldSkills focused project, The Skills Sphere.
In November, Gerard presented on the project to other WorldSkills practitioners in Manchester and was then approached by a representative from ETF, who encouraged him to apply to the Fellowship programme.
The Skills Sphere allows learners the opportunity to take part in pressure tests within the classroom. Pressure testing emulates real work tasks within a given deadline so students get a taste of what life is like in the workplace, while aiming to achieve their individual personal best times and developing their soft and technical skills.
In addition, the project has strengthened the department’s many links to industry, involving local employers such as Fisher & Paykel, Zeta Alarms and Trojan Electronics in a skills questionnaire which looks to address knowledge gaps.
The Fellowships were formally awarded at an event held at the Royal Society in London on Friday 28 March. The event saw Fellows from previous years presenting on their Fellowship activity and its impact.
Applications for Technical Teaching Fellowships are assessed against criteria including demonstrating highly effective approaches to improving teaching and learning in technical education, how the Fellowship will be used to inspire others, and the planning of professional development opportunities to impact on the pedagogy and professional practice of other teachers and trainers.
Due to the high quality of this year’s applications, 2025/26 Fellows are the largest cohort yet with seven Fellowships being awarded to nine Fellows. This year’s cohort includes the first Fellow from the Channel Islands as well as Technical Teaching Fellows from across England and Wales.
Fellows will develop knowledge transfer and exchange activities, sharing effective practice at national and regional conferences and via networks, facilitating CPD and contributing to thought leadership through an established technical community of practice. They will also contribute to a final report to engage and motivate technical education practitioners in their specialist subject areas.
All Fellows now also become alumni of the Royal Commission, providing them with further support to drive quality improvement in technical STEM teaching and training.
“We are delighted that Steve and Gerard have been awarded this prestigious joint Fellowship from the ETF,” says Principal Kelly Fountain. “Steve has played a very important role in ensuring the College’s excellent reputation for vocational training for over 40 years, steering countless students to skills competition success on both the regional and national stage, combining his work as a Curriculum Leader for Electronic Engineering with his dedication as a Worldskills trainer.
“Gerard has also played a crucial role in the mentoring and coaching of the next generation of talent within the sector. Both have strengthened and enhanced the College’s link with industry during the course of this exciting project. Huge congratulations to them both – this recognition is very much deserved.”
Visit ETF’s website for the full story.
Photo: Education and Training Foundation.
