The Playful Learning Association team, with Dr Katie Piatt on the left

A cross-institutional team led by the University of Sussex and Northumbria University has been awarded a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) by higher education professional membership body Advance HE, for its work at the Playful Learning Association (PLA).

The team was led by Dr Katie Piatt, Head of Educational Enhancement at Sussex and co-chair of the PLA, and Nic Whitton (one of the founder members of the PLA). The award recognises the significant contributions of the association in supporting collaborative initiatives with a demonstrable impact on teaching, learning, and promoting knowledge sharing.

The PLA champions playful approaches to learning, teaching, assessment, research, and all other forms of academic practice. Driven by a diverse team of academics, professional services staff and university leaders, they collaborate to share ideas and expertise, creating transformative learning experiences that make a real difference to students across the country.

The PLA held the Playful Learning Conference at Falmer campus where staff showcased their innovative approaches to education, including using Lego for facilitation and developing simulation games. Presentations from Sussex colleagues included the ‘Playful Pedagogies in Initial Teacher Training’, and a session on a gamified online distance learning module in Sustainable Development. These sessions highlighted the University's commitment to integrating playful learning into their curriculum.

Dr Piatt said: "I am incredibly honoured and pleased that our team has received the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our cross-institutional team, whose collective efforts have made this achievement possible. The award underscores the power of collaboration. For the University of Sussex, this accolade highlights our commitment to advancing educational excellence and supporting innovation in teaching and learning. It is a proud moment, demonstrating the impact of our collaborative efforts on enhancing student experiences and academic success."

The team will receive the award at a special ceremony in Edinburgh on Thursday 3 October.

The full PLA winning team is below and you can read more about the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence on the Advance HE website:

Dr Katie Piatt from University of Sussex
Professor Nic Whitton from Northumbria University
James Charnock from Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Giskin Day from Imperial College London
Rosie Jones from Teeside University
Professor Mark Langan from Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr John Lean from Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Alex Moseley from Anglia Ruskin University
Andrew Walsh (Independent)

The Playful Learning Conference returns to Sussex in July 2025 and 2026. Colleagues interested in getting involved should contact Katie Piatt at K.Piatt@sussex.ac.uk.