Assistant Principal At Suffolk College Honoured - 4 November 2003

Peter Funnell, Assistant Principal (Learning Development) at Suffolk College, has been awarded a doctorate by the University of East Anglia in recognition of his research in on-line learning - learning through the Internet.

Dr Funnell has led a range of research projects designed to open up new learning opportunities for people in Suffolk and beyond, using the information retrieval and communications potential of the Internet. In 1997 he founded CREATE, a Suffolk College research centre that has achieved both national and international recognition for the standard of its work. More recently Dr Funnell wrote the successful proposal which led to the establishment of the Suffolk Institute of Technology, one of only 18 New Technology Institutes in the country. He is no stranger to awards having previously received a research fellowship from BT, an international teaching fellowship from Murdoch University in Australia, and being an inaugural winner of a prestigious national ICT in Practice Award from BECTa.

Dr Funnell said: "On-line learning holds a promise of a new approach to adult learning. It can support learners irrespective of time and space, but to be successful requires the full engagement of educationalists in planning provision and supporting learners. We have made considerable progress in this field in Suffolk, and my recent award reflects in part the ground-breaking work of colleagues at Suffolk College, work that will support the educational innovation that will inform the future development of an integrated university campus and associated new further education college to serve the county."

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

For further information please contact:

Tracey Bailey, Promotions and Information Centre Manager

Tel: 01473 296520

Email: tracey.bailey@suffolk.ac.uk

Issued by Promotions. 4 November 2003