I joined St Mary’s University as a lecturer in academic practice in 2023. I design and develop a range of resources for academic professional development including introductions to university teaching and personal tutoring. I also support the Advance HE fellowships scheme.
With over 20 years of experience in higher education, I have previously worked at The Open University and The University of Surrey, specialising in course design and production, digital learning, and the development and implementation of educational software. Currently, I am nearing completion of a Master's in Higher Education at The University of Surrey.
My research and practice interests focus on fostering student engagement in both online, blended and face-to-face teaching, as well as exploring the diverse conceptions of independent learning in higher education. I am particularly interested in how students can be effectively supported in developing autonomy as learners.
Publications
Brennan, J. (2025) ‘Microcredentials for excellence: a practical guide’, Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, pp. 1–4. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02680513.2025.2480810.
Costello, B., Brennan, J., Loughlin, C. and Gallagher, A. (2020) ‘Learner engagement on a blended ethics education programme: perspectives of students and teachers’, in Gravett, K., Yakovchuk, N., Kinchin, I. (eds) Enhancing Student-Centred Teaching in Higher Education, Palgrave Macmillan: Cham.
Gallagher, A., Brennan, J. and Loughlin, C. (2018) ‘The ethics of “Nudge” in professional education’, Nursing Ethics, 25(7), pp. 821–822. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733018802643.
Contact Julia