Elaine Hills, FHEA

I am an experienced higher education lecturer specialising in academic literacies and English for Academic Purposes. I support students from diverse backgrounds and experiences in developing the skills, confidence and critical awareness needed to succeed at university.

My work contributes to institutional priorities around student retention, inclusivity and transition. I collaborate with academic staff to embed academic skills within the curriculum, supporting both undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts through discipline-specific approaches.

I design and deliver sessions in critical academic communication to develop students' written and oral presentation skills. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, writing groups and one-to-one tutorials. My practice emphasises reflective learning, enabling students to build autonomy, self-efficacy and a confident academic voice.

I work across the university, teaching mainly in the School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences. My teaching is tailored to the needs of specific cohorts, assignments and disciplinary conventions.

I lead on digital learning initiatives, focusing currently on digital material creation, with a particular focus on AI. I also deliver workshops and provide one-to-one support to students across the university on using AI effectively and ethically within their studies. I am also carrying out research in this area.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I recently completed the first year of a Master of Research in Environmental Politics. My research interests so far have included the rights of nature and climate change in coastal communities.