Award for education chief

Toni Fazaeli received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education from the University’s School of Education at a graduation ceremony.

The award was conferred in recognition of Toni’s considerable contribution to Post-Compulsory Education.

Toni Fazaeli joined the Institute for Learning (IfL); the professional body for teachers and trainers across further education and skills; as its first chief executive in June 2008.

She said: “It is a great honour and privilege to receive this award and to share the graduation ceremony with students who have worked so hard for their degrees. I am proud to be associated with the University of Wolverhampton and its School of Education, which is renowned for its high‑quality teacher training courses; undergraduate and postgraduate teaching qualifications in primary, secondary and further education; continuing professional development; and academic research. I believe strongly in the value of teaching and learning to society and our economy, and that teachers and trainers should have the best possible training and be accorded high status for their important work.”

Toni started her career as a teacher and is passionate about teaching and learning. Before joining the IfL she was a senior civil servant with policy responsibilities for further education; national director in quality and standards at the Learning and Skills Council; and inspector for the Further Education Funding Council, where she inspected literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and humanities across a diverse range of further and adult colleges and services. She was also an officer for adult education in Leicestershire Local Education Authority.

As a qualified teacher, Toni has taught in prisons, further and adult education, as well as schools. She has observed hundreds of teaching and training sessions across the broad further education sector, and throughout her career has focused on teaching, training, learning, educational policy and research.

Toni has visited education organisations in England and internationally, as well as organisations outside the sector for benchmarking practice and learning from difference. She mentors and coaches individuals, with a focus on people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, and occasionally visits older people in residential homes as a volunteer tutor.

Toni is married and has four children, and lives in Leicester.

The University’s graduation ceremonies are being held at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Thursday, 1 September to Friday 9 September 2011.

ENDS 

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