Sarah Telfer

I am an Associate Teaching Professor in Education at the University of Greater Manchester with over 20 years’ experience in Further and Higher Education, specialising in Initial Teacher Education, pedagogic leadership, and professional development. I provide strategic and operational leadership across the School of Education, including programme leadership for 14+ ITE provision, quality assurance, curriculum innovation, and academic staff development aligned with the University of Greater Manchester's TIRIAE agenda.

My nationally recognised pedagogic research focuses on storytelling as a scholarly and inclusive teaching practice to enhance learner engagement, assessment literacy, reflection, and employability, with an emerging strand exploring the role of generative AI within pedagogic practice. My work demonstrates sustained impact across curriculum design, assessment, staff CPD, and professional recognition frameworks, and is disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications, invited keynotes, practitioner outputs, and public scholarship (including a TED Talk).

I am a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and an experienced mentor and assessor for professional recognition (AFHEA–SFHEA). I have a strong track record of doctoral supervision, external examining, and cross-institutional engagement, and am recognised for my leadership in embedding teaching excellence, innovation, and reflective practice at both School and institutional level.