Queen Mary School of Engineering and Materials Science final year PhD student Ziyu Guo has been successful in securing both the Associate Fellowship (AFHEA) of Advance HE and the Student Enhanced Engagement and Development (SEED) Award from the Queen Mary Academy for his significant and outstanding contributions as a teaching assistant demonstrator for the two undergraduate first and mathematics modules EMS412 and EMS506 under the supervision and mentorship of Dr Rehan Shah.

As the principal referee supporting his application, Dr Shah noted that he has 'exceedingly valued Ziyu’s outstanding contributions as a PhD demonstrator leading the IT and problem-solving class sessions. Ziyu has received excellent feedback from students and other academic members of the modules’ teaching teams. With large modules such as these comprising over 300 students, Ziyu has adopted the role of a senior demonstrator in leading the IT and problem-solving classes by mentoring and sharing his insights with newer colleagues. He is an extremely committed and thoughtful teacher, who has a thorough knowledge of the content and prepares his classes very thoroughly. Ziyu has also played a key role in providing assessment and feedback to students, both formative (through in-class engagement and managing the QMPlus module forum) and summative (through marking of programming coursework). He has the highest professional values and enjoys teaching and helping students to learn. I therefore wholeheatedly support Ziyu’s application for Associate Fellowship of Advance HE in the strongest possible terms.'

The QMA panel reviewing his applications also noted how 'The application provides evidence for all criteria required at the Descriptor 1 level. Practice that supports learning is based on professional development and evidence, which makes for a robust account. Good description on the teaching delivery and how adaptations were made in response to student feedback. The application’s development of teaching and supporting learning was very compelling, and overall, the application shows a high level of engagement with educational practice and scholarship.'

Ziyu is continuing to play a key role in curriculum development by working with Dr Shah and mentoring some of his undergraduate student co-creators who are creating a Beginners Guide to Python featuring common mistakes and additional practice questions of use to new incoming first year students for EMS412, who have no prior programming experience.