Vanessa Mee, Professional Development and Scholarly Activity Lead at The Guernsey Institute, has been awarded one of seven highly competitive Technical Teaching Fellowships for 2025/26. These prestigious awards are made jointly by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. Vanessa is the first person from the Channel Islands to receive this accolade.

Vanessa’s fellowship will consider how small community colleges can emulate world-leading apprenticeship models in order to raise aspirations, outcomes and broaden horizons for all of their learners.  Vanessa will be seeking to develop a pedagogical model for technical teachers that prepares young people for a dynamic and changing work life.

The Fellowships were formally awarded at an event held at the Royal Society in London on Friday 28 March 2025. 

Applications for Technical Teaching Fellowships are assessed against a range of criteria including demonstrating highly effective approaches to improving teaching and learning in technical education, how the Fellowship will be used to inspire others, and the planning of professional development opportunities to impact on the pedagogy and professional practice of other teachers and trainers. 

Principal of TGI College Louise Misselke said: “We are extremely proud of Vanessa’s fantastic achievement. The fellowship will give her an opportunity to share knowledge and effective practice with other professionals in the education sector as well as the chance to contribute to thought leadership within the broader education community. This accolade is testament to Vanessa’s hard work and dedication to her role.”