What’s happened 

The podiatry team at the University of Huddersfield has received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) from Advance HE. 

The national award recognises collaborative work that has made a transformative impact on teaching and learning. 

Huddersfield's podiatry team was recognised for a series of initiatives bringing together students, university staff, NHS clinicians, industry partners and the wider community. 

Learning beyond the classroom 

From a student buddying scheme to contributing to national guidance, podiatry at the University of Huddersfield was recognised for several initiatives. 

• Students delivered care to visitors to the Huddersfield Mission homeless centre under the guidance of Senior Lecturer Neville Parker. The initiative brought podiatry care to people who may otherwise have difficulty accessing healthcare.
   

• Leg Awareness Days, organised in conjunction with industry partners, were led by Dr Natasha Levy. These highlighted the role of preventative care in foot health and gave students real-world clinical experience while benefiting the local community. 
  
  

• Clinicians from local NHS trusts – some of them Huddersfield alumni – stepped up to act as lecturer practitioners to supervise students in the delivery of care at the university’s podiatry clinic in the Daphne Steele Building. 
  
  

• Student-led community clinics were also delivered in Leeds and Bury, overseen by Dr Grace Linsley and members of the team. These boosted delivery capacity within the NHS and were recognised by NHS England as a model of excellence for placement experience. 
  
  

• Final-year students supported first-year students under the university’s buddying system. 
  
  

• Dr Andy Bridgen led the team's work with the Royal College of Podiatry to develop national standards for the training and regulation of podiatric surgery.  

The team's CATE submission was led by Dr Peter Roberts and Senior Lecturer Leah Asante, with support from Professor Georgina Blakeley. 

Why this matters to members 

The award gives national recognition to an approach to podiatry education that takes learning beyond the classroom, with students gaining clinical experience in communities, working alongside NHS clinicians and supporting each other through peer learning. 

The team's work also demonstrates how partnerships between universities, the NHS, industry and professional bodies can create new learning opportunities while increasing access to podiatry services. 

Its work with the Royal College of Podiatry on national standards for podiatric surgery also shows how university expertise can contribute to the development of the profession nationally. 

Links and references 

• Podiatry team win Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 

• Advance HE: Podiatry at The University of Huddersfield