Dr Nicci Campbell is shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Award
Dr Nicci Campbell, Associate Professor/Principal Audiological Scientist in the Auditory Implant Service, Engineering and the Environment, has earned a place on the shortlist for her innovative approach to higher education. Dr Campbell has developed an unrivalled reputation for excellence for her education in the area of auditory implantation at Southampton, which enhances, and is enhanced by, her clinical patient care commitments
The Auditory Implant Service at Southampton (USAIS) provides clinical care for those requiring cochlear implantation and other types of auditory implantation, along with specialised hearing services. This is the only service of its kind in the UK and is based within the University of Southampton.
Dr Campbell has capitalised on this unique location because of USAIS’s reputation for excellence in developing unique student training opportunities, which have significantly enhanced the educational experience of audiology graduates nationally and internationally.
Dr Campbell is the coordinator of the MSc Audiology module; Fundamentals of Auditory Implants, a postgraduate module dedicated exclusively to this area, and consistently rated as ‘excellent’ by students. By combining clinical sessions with academic studies it helps students align their understanding of the traditional roles of ‘clinician’ versus ‘patient’. The students see a ‘live’ tuning session with an USAIS cochlear implant patient, projected onto the ‘big screen’, an invaluable learning experience. Equally, it is empowering for patients who play an active role in the training of the next generation of audiologists.
Dr Campbell has set up the competitive 12-week clinical placement programme at USAIS. These placements offer audiologists intensive specialist training in cochlear implants, as part of our multi-disciplinary team. Her trainees have excelled and gone on to develop cochlear implant services both nationally and internationally, such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, China, Canada, Netherlands and Belgium.
In addition to her leadership in education, Dr Campbell is the team lead for the USAIS Self-funded cochlear implant service and has also set up and managed the first interdisciplinary auditory processing disorder service in the UK.
Dr Campbell said:
“Cochlear implants have completely transformed the lives of those with severe and profound hearing loss over the past 35 years. I have been fortunate to be part of this journey from the very beginning. I am passionate about teaching and am delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award!
It is tremendously rewarding to ignite the same passion for learning and love for the field of audiology/cochlear implants in our students. It is humbling to see how the great work done at USAIS impacts nationally and internationally, improving the lives of those with severe and profound hearing loss.”
This year’s Times Higher Education Awards will be announced on Thursday 30 November at a gala dinner in London.