Joanne McKibbin

About

I am Head of Department of Education. This strategic leadership role is responsible for teacher education, work-based learning and education research for Kingston University. I am committed to ensuring a high-quality student experience consider a key aspect of my current role is to support colleagues both within the Department and wider School to develop their skills, knowledge, and practice to effectively develop provision and support students to achieve to the maximum of their potential. A key aspect of my doctoral research (which I am currently on a break from) was creating safe learning spaces for students within an HE environment. I have extensive experience designing and developing courses to ensure they are current, relevant, and meet the needs of students.

I am also a lecturer on the BA(Hons) Early Years Education and Leadership in Practice, BA(Hons) Early Years Teaching and Learning, BA(Hons) Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Practice, and the MRes Research (Education).

My previous experience includes developing and managing Early Years, play and social care provision. Within these roles I managed staff teams and had lead responsibility for quality assurance, policy development, safeguarding and the professional development of practitioners. I have also set up and managed my own training company providing a range of bespoke training programmes within the social care and early years sectors. I worked for several years in the FE sector as an Advanced Practitioner in Work Based Learning and Course Leader with responsibility for Early Years programmes. I was also involved in the early design and development (2001-2) of Foundation Degrees in Early Years.