Celebrating Excellence: Prof. Fernandez’s Impactful Leadership in PG Research Supervision
Nancy Pontika, Tuesday 17 Sep 2024
KMi is thrilled to announce that one of our esteemed academics, Prof. Miriam Fernandez, has been honored with the STEM Research Excellence Award for her outstanding contributions to postgraduate research supervision at The Open University. This recognition is a testament to her unwavering dedication, innovative support strategies, and steadfast commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
Miriam has consistently gone above and beyond in fostering a collaborative and nurturing environment for Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs). Her initiatives, such as the weekly “Coffee Catch-up” sessions, have created a space where students can share their experiences, support each other, and build a sense of community. These sessions have been instrumental in benefiting not only her direct supervisees but also other students across the university.
A strong advocate for professional development, she actively facilitates PGR participation in significant events and conferences. This engagement has proven invaluable, enhancing students’ employability and broadening the dissemination of their research. Under her guidance, many students have secured prestigious grants and scholarships, paving the way for their academic and professional growth. Examples include, Joseph: Melete Scholarship, Angel and Joseph: Web Science Conference grant, Vaclav: Singapore Summer Institute, Angel and Paula: International Semantic Web Summer School, and Oxford ML Summer School.
Miriam’s leadership extends to impactful research projects, including the pioneering Early Alert Indicators dashboard. This project is significantly improving student success rates and contributing to the reduction of existing awarding gaps. By addressing the diverse needs of students and supporting interactions relevant to their modes of study, her work benefits not only doctoral students but the wider student community as well.
Her commitment to EDI is particularly noteworthy. Miriam champions initiatives that foster equality and diversity within higher education. Her students are engaged in groundbreaking research on critical societal issues such as hate speech and bias in AI systems, reflecting her dedication to making a positive societal impact. As an Athena SWAN champion, she tirelessly works to promote gender equality and support underrepresented groups within the academic community.
Miriam’s exceptional leadership, innovative approaches, and commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive research environment make her a true asset to The Open University. We are proud to celebrate her achievements and look forward to the continued positive impact of her work on the PGR community.
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! Your dedication and hard work inspire us all.
People: Miri, Angel, Joseph, Vaclav, Paula