CEBE Team

Aled Williams
Aled is Deputy Director for Construction, Surveying and Real Estate, in the UK Higher Education Academy’s Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE). He has contributed to the development of Construction, Surveying and Real Estate education with enthusiasm and effectiveness, at multiple levels. As Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford activities range from the ‘chalk face’ of student learning, through faculty and institutional initiatives to regional and national projects.

He has a track record of successfully leading on several employer engagement projects with funding bodies including: HEFCE; Higher Education Academy; ConstructionSkills; GMSA Lifelong Learning Network, EU and NW Higher Level Skills Partnership. As the Director of the Construction Knowledge Exchange (CKE), and member of the Employer Engagement Facilitation Group within the Higher Education Academy, he has completed applied research in partnership with key industry collaborators.

Hazel Palmer
Hazel is the Centre Administrator for Construction, Surveying and Real Estate in the Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE). Managing the core support tasks of CEBE and its associated projects, Hazel is the focal point of communication between the academic community and industry. This involves coordinating and delivery of regional workshops and monitoring and controlling the flows of income and expenditure.

Pam Mullin
Pam is a Research Fellow with one of the Construction Knowledge Exchange, a Centre for Education in the Built Environment projects which promotes the sharing of knowledge and good practice between Higher Education, industry and the wider community.

As national project manager Pam has brought together over 140 case studies of best practice in areas such as Innovation, Networking and Education and Training. Pam coordinates the five partner HEI's in the project and is responsible for delivery, evaluation and sustainability of the knowledge exchange activity.

In addition to her work on the CKE Pam has recently completed a Leonardo Da Vinci European project that focused upon developing a model of curriculum to deliver innovation to postgraduate construction management students.
Pam's background in higher education covers careers education and employer engagement and this reflects her research interests of knowledge exchange, skills development and higher education management.

Niraj Thurairajah
Niraj is a Research Fellow in the UK Higher Education Academy’s Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE). He presently leads the ACBEE project which forms part of the accelerating change agenda endorsed by the Strategic Forum. The main focus of this initiative is to foster collaboration and dialogue between industry, higher education and professional bodies, thus encouraging the provision of more relevant training and education for the future and improving the quality of UK student output.

In addition to his involvement in various other research projects, Niraj also lectures in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying at the University of Salford. In the last 7 years, he has undertaken work-based teaching modules for BSc and MSc students, encouraging learners to apply their knowledge to practical industry problems. His research interests include employer engagement, pedagogical strategies, construction partnering, leadership and culture.

Tim Lees
Tim is a Research Fellow in the UK Higher Education Academy’s Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE). He has led on a number of employer engagement related projects including the development of a network of best practice to stimulate demand-led education and the development of a vocationally aligned MSc in Construction Management. Tim is currently leading the development of a demand-led foundation degree in Construction Management, managing a pilot project to develop a short course in project management and sustainability and managing growing relationships with several key employers and local authorities.

In addition to his involvement in the development of these demand-led projects Tim has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and supports the teaching of science in undergraduate modules. He has been involved in the delivery of tutorials through a interactive virtual learning environment and is keen to support the learning experience of students. His research interests include employer engagement, innovation in curriculum, assessment and programme design and project management in higher education.

Consultants

Dr Darryl Bibby
Darryl began his career in a marketing company where after 7 years he became responsible for sales, marketing and the performance of clients’ contracts including publishers Penguin, OUP, Elsevier, and Springer Verlag. In 1992 he moved into Higher Education and joined Oxford Polytechnic as Business Development Manager successfully marketing the University’s CPD, short courses and International Summer School. By 1995 he had become Head of Oxford Brookes’ Centre for Continuing Education. Darryl’s work with employers led to him becoming heavily involved in regional skills initiatives and research.

In 1999 he was appointed Director of the new Centre for Lifelong Learning at Coventry University, which after years of significant growth was made a full School of the University in 2006 with Darryl as its first Dean. Darryl has successfully secured more than £10 million of funding related to skills development and work with employers.

Dr Judy Rumbelow
Judy has worked in staff development for Higher, Further and Adult Education for the last ten years, designing and delivering programmes to academic and support staff. At the Open University Judy designed and managed a customer service programme for 300 student services staff. Judy has worked extensively with employers. At the OU she set up and led a unit to deliver vocational development for staff and then expanded this winning business from large external clients. Judy also worked with private sector companies to pilot the use of higher level skills standards which she had written as part of a team working with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Judy joined Coventry University in 2005 as Associate Dean of the School of Lifelong Learning. Working with Darryl she wrote the successful bid to the HEFCE Strategic Development Fund for £4m for Employer Engagement which she later was seconded to as Project Director.