Dr Rebecca E Khanna
Assistant Dean, Academic Development
Summary
My work as an educationalist and senior manager in HE has involved oversight of academic provision and college-wide curriculum development, including professional and regulatory body approval, and development of the student/staff experience in the UK and internationally. Prior to working in HE, I gained a collection of robust skills and insights drawn from clinical and service leadership roles within the NHS. Within my current post as Assistant Dean, Academic Development this role provides leadership, vision and strategy in managing the College's academic development to support the full range of teaching and research activities across the college.
About
Rebecca is currently Assistant Dean, Academic Development within the College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences. She has extensive experience working in the statutory sectors of health and higher education as a senior manager and service evaluator. After qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 1984, she gained a variety of experiences as a senior clinician working across mental health and physical rehabilitation services in a number of NHS Trusts within the UK. By 1990 she had secured her first departmental head post on the Isle of Wight and later became a District Head of Occupational Therapy Services in Warwickshire. Prior to working in higher education she was a General Manager of an allied health professions directorate in an NHS Trust. These roles provided rich experiences in service redesign, commissioning new buildings and services, developing service level agreements and strategic planning.
In 2000 she commenced working in higher education at Coventry University, where she held several senior roles at department and college level connected with course leadership, curriculum review and quality enhancement. Rebecca undertook project work within the Centre for Excellence in Interprofessional E-Learning. Before leaving Coventry University she was seconded as project lead for a cross college project involving the concurrent major review of 12 pre-registration courses. In 2013 Rebecca joined Sheffield Hallam University as College Head of Quality working in Health and Wellbeing.
Subsequently, in 2015 she became Assistant Dean, Academic Development. Rebecca is keen to pursue her ongoing interests of innovative curriculum models, inter-disciplinary working and maximising accreditation opportunities. She continues to work at national level as an HCPC Visitor and Accreditor of Occupational Therapy programmes, alongside serving on several national committees. She is also reviewer for the British Journal of Occupational Therapy and works as an External Examiner and invited panel member. Rebecca provides supervision to doctoral and MSc students.
Educational policy and governance in Higher Education, Professional and institutional narrative identities, Reflective practice, Critical thinking, Stakeholder involvement
Teaching
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
Flexible Learning Community of Practice and Student Involvement in University Governance
Occupational Therapy
Other activities
HCPC Visitor (2013- to date)
External Examiner presently at Trinity College, University of Dublin (previously University of Ulster, Brunel University, Bournemouth University)
Vice Chair, College of Occupational Therapists, Learning and Development Board (2010-2013
College of Occupational Therapists Accreditor Pre-registration Course (2010 to date)
College of Occupational Therapists External Course Assessor (2006- to date)
British Journal of Occupational Therapy Reviewer (2006 - present)
Vice Chair, College of Occupational Therapists, Ethics Committee (2006-8)
West Midlands Regional Group Higher Education Representative (2002-2004)