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TE in HE people

This page is for those working with the Thinking Environment in Higher Education.  Its purpose is to share a snapshot of what each of us is doing.  Contact us to get your information on this page, and to update it.   Over time I am hoping it will build into a useful resource for us all.

Andrew Scott

I have worked with the Thinking Environment in the following ways, in various Universities.

Coaching of Senior Leaders, Academics, Professional Service staff (various HEIs)

Introduction to TE workshops (1 day) run regularly at Imperial
Facilitation of UEB and Faculty Board meetings in a TE (various HEIs)
Thinking Partnership Coaching of senior academics and professional services staff (various)
The Diversity Workshop (Newcastle)
Methodology for the Professorial Leadership programmes at Lancaster and Cardiff
Methodology for parts of the Futures programme at Newcastle, Cardiff and WInchester
Diagnostic interviews and subsequent team awaydays for teams that are in difficulties (various HEIs)
Methodology for Workshops for AHUA conferences and in various HEIs
Facilitation of large group events (PS conferences etc) at Cardiff

Training in TE for mentors in Reciprocal Mentoring programmes

I have found it very well received and very valuable in all these contexts.  My favourite strategy to overcome academic resistance to it is to invite them to try the experiment.  They normally can't resist that invitation!
 

Anna Cupani

I am a scientist by training who has worked across disciplines, sectors, and countries over the years, moving from laboratory work to business development, from medical research to environmental activities, from policy to coaching. 

I help establish partnerships between researchers in various institutions to translate scientific discoveries for the collective good. I have worked with researchers from different disciplines applying for grants, with groups of citizens, policy makers, and scientists who want to inform local change, with managers stepping into new roles. 

I have been using the Thinking Environment for several years as I find it one of the most powerful and clean methods to bring people together in a fair, respectful and effective way. I use it in my coaching practice too and would love to grow with this community

Claire Andrews

I'm a Time to Think Coach, Facilitator and Global Faculty Member, trained by Nancy Kline. I teach, coach and facilitate in the Thinking Environment for a wide range of public, corporate and not-for-profit organizations in the UK, including Oxford University, Save the Children and the NHS. 

 

My work in HE includes supporting teams, departments and senior leaders to think together about key questions they face or how to work more positively and effectively together. I'm also deeply interested in the potential of the Thinking Environment to enrich academic reflective practice in the seminar room, individual mentoring and supervision. 

David Faraday

Dr. David Faraday is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Surrey and a leadership trainer for Evolve Leadteam Ltd. He designed and delivers AdvanceHE’s Research Team Leadership Course.

Helen Cramman

Helen Cramman is an Associate Professor at Durham University, where she has been introducing colleagues and students to the Thinking Environment through her split role in the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD) and as a researcher in the School of Education. She is interested in how the Thinking Environment can be used to enhance learning and teaching and as a method for research data collection. Helen’s research expertise is in evaluation of education initiatives and she is working collaboratively with education focussed colleagues across Durham University to develop projects to evaluate the use of the Thinking Environment with both staff and students. Helen is particularly interested in the Thinking Environment as an approach to support equality, diversity and inclusion in education and would be interested in collaborating with colleagues across multiple universities to conduct an evaluation of TE in HE on a larger scale. Helen is a Time to Think accredited facilitator. 

Jen Bagelman

Professor Jen Bagelman is based at Newcastle University and an enthusiast of 'Thinking Environment' - particularly interested in how this practice can be used in supervisory contexts to generate fresh and independent thinking. 

Kathryn Pogson

Kathryn Pogson is Director of Quality at Kirklees College, where she has been using the Thinking Environment to effect a sea change in college culture, embodying values of kindness, unity and excellence.

Lou Mycroft

Dr Lou Mycroft has been a Thinking Environment coach and facilitator for 30 years. She leads the national Green Changemakers programme, which is completely grounded in Thinking Environment practice and principles.

Lucy Hatt

Dr Lucy Hatt is a Reader in Entrepreneurial Education and Director of the full time MBA programme at Newcastle University Business School.  Having known Andrew over many years through Coaching and Outplacement work she invited him to deliver a Thinking Environment workshop to the MBA cohort as part of their induction activities in 2024.  It made a significant impact on the cohort and, after it was suggest by Andrew, she decided to try out a workshop for herself.  As a Thinking Environment novice, she's keen to understand how the practice might be integrated into her work, enabling independent thinking in post-experience, post-graduate taught learners, and to explore its potential as a defence against the potentials harms of Artificial Intelligence use in Higher Education.

Peter Hopkins

Peter has been applying the Thinking Environment in PhD supervision contexts at Newcastle University where he is a Professor of Social Geography. He has also used the Thinking Environment in research supervision and mentoring relationships, and it is now included in the training undertaken by all PhD supervisors. He is interested in exploring other contexts in which it can be applied. Peter qualified as a Time to Think Coach in 2024 having previously completed a Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring in 2020.

Rosalind Beaumont

Rosalind Beaumont is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Researcher Development, working at Newcastle and Durham universities. She's been introducing the Thinking Environment into doctoral education, and exploring its value as part of reflective practice and in researcher identity & agency development. 

Sheila Ball

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Founder of Flourish for CollectivEd, Leeds Beckett University

 

I have been working in the following ways with the TE in HE:

 

Professional Learning

  • piloted the CollectivEd Flourish programme 2023-24 enabling educators from different phases with or without positional leadership roles to learn about Kline's TE and apply it in their professional settings 

    https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/-/media/files/research/collectived/collectived-flourish-vignettes.pdf 

  • facilitating termly meetings this year with the founding Flourish cohort to support their ongoing development of Kline's TE

  • currently facilitating 5 introductory sessions February - June to recruit a new Flourish cohort for 2025-26

  • using TE to structure and facilitate teaching in MA Coaching & Mentoring module with home and international students

  • facilitate an introduction to Kline's TE as part of PG Cert in Coaching & Mentoring

 

Doctoral research

  • facilitate a monthly LBU doctoral support group to enable each person to think for 15 minutes about their doctoral study (like a thinking pair, but more a thinking quartet!)

  • currently in 4th year of doctoral research: Cultivating brave spaces in education through Nancy Kline's Thinking Environment

Writing

  • currently co-writing an article for a book focusing on Possibility Studies, entitled How might Kline’s Thinking Environment enable an exploration of imagined possibilities?

Shirley Wardell

Shirley qualified as a Time to Think Consultant in 1997 and has depended on Nancy Kline's Thinking Environment to create ideal learning conditions.  Innovation, creativity,problem solving, team building and conflict management all need a safe space to progress.  Shirley is on the Time to Think Faculty and can teach all the qualifying courses.

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Shirley has delivered leadership, coaching and facilitation in Government Departments, Higher Education, Advance HE, International Bodies and Commercial Organisations. Shirley brings her arts background to the design of her training which makes them lively, impactful and resonant. Shirley worked as a Recruitment Consultant for 5 years which gave her a good understanding of a wide range of industries.  Shirley trained as a Drama Teacher and has an MA in Coaching Supervision. Shirley is a Green Party member and active in local politics.

Steph Vidal-Hall

Steph is a Time to Think Coach, Facilitator and Global Collegiate Member.  Trained by Nancy Kline, she is a specialist in Transforming Meetings, teaching and facilitating Thinking Environments in meetings and groups across sectors.  Originally a theatre lecturer, she is the founder of Making Meeting Matters and holds an MA in Learning & Teaching.

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