Spotlight on Clare Bentall

What is your role and what does it involve?

I have various roles at UCL. One of these is Academic Director for UCL’s Global Citizenship Programme. I also am Associate Director of the Development Education Research Centre in IOE and Academic Lead on a Masters of Didactics project working with lecturers in Polish universities. I also teach on different education Master’s programmes in IOE, am an assessor for Arena, and edit the International Journal of Development Education and Global Learning.  

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I have been on the staff in IOE since 2003, after completing my PhD there. Prior to that I worked in Indonesia as a teacher trainer as part of a Voluntary Service Overseas posting. I trained initially as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, working in the UK and Germany, and have worked extensively for Voluntary Services Overseas and other organisations training other educators. 

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

I enjoy the variety of projects I have been involved in. My work is almost always collaborative, so any achievement is a collective endeavour. From a personal perspective, as my work involves helping other educators to improve their practice for the benefit of their learners, I am most pleased when I hear of the differences the changes in their practice have made. It is always encouraging to see when learners make the most of the learning opportunities they have. 

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?

I was pleased to be given the role as Academic Director for UCL’s Global Citizenship Programme just over a year ago. This connects my interest in improving educational practice in higher education and my work in Development Education. This field is concerned with pedagogies for learning about global issues and developing skills and attributes to respond to global challenges. We have just opened recruitment for this year’s Global Citizenship Programme and my main concern is making sure all under-graduates and taught post-graduates are aware of the opportunity. 

It is a two-week summer school that runs from 28 May to 7 June, which offers students a fun, participatory and inter-disciplinary learning experience, focusing on global issues such as environmental justice or global health. It teaches them skills such as campaigning and film-making, and helps prepare them for work in a global job market. Staff from across UCL are involved in designing the programme, and my role is to support that process.