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Sussex alum returns with UG students to learn about British teacher training and the UK education system
By: Heather Stanley
Last updated: Thursday, 30 May 2024
Dr Sumudu Lewis with her UG cohort from UMass Lowell
Associate Professor and Sussex alum, Dr Sumudu Lewis, brought 10 undergraduate students on the STEM Teacher Prep Program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) to Sussex for two weeks in May to experience what it is like to be a teacher and a student in the UK. The ITE team in the Department of Education prepared a schedule for the group which included sitting in on ITE taught sessions on the Sussex campus, as well as visits to local schools.
The trip was part of the prestigious ‘UTeach STEM Teacher Preparation Program’ at UMass Lowell for which Sumudu is the Director.
Sumudu originally undertook a Chemistry DPhil at the University of Sussex in 1991 during which time she took several opportunities to connect with schools, conducting outreach initiatives and working with disadvantage young people. It was during this rewarding period that Sumudu started thinking about teaching as a career.
After completing her DPhil in 1995 and conducting a postdoc at the University of Bangor in North Wales, Sumudu returned to Sussex in 1997/98 to do a Secondary Science PGCE. Her first paid role as a science teacher was at St Paul’s Catholic college. She moved to London two years later as a Key Stage 3 Coordinator at Edgeware School (became London Academy in 2004) where she later became Head of Science. Sumudu took on the role of STEM Coordinator/Assistant Principal at Rosedale College (Hayes, Middlesex) in 2006.
Speaking of her time at Sussex and what the trip has meant for her and her students, Sumudu said:
“I loved the atmosphere at Sussex University when I was a student. Some of my friends were still working on their PhDs at that time too so it really was home for me. And I loved Brighton. The UMass students tell me how lucky I was to have gone to Sussex. I agree! They have been impressed with the British education system - they see that in England pupils are more prepared to succeed at university. They’ve got another perspective on teaching, which was my goal for this trip.”
Sumudu moved to the US in 2008 with her American husband and got a Teaching Assistantship at UMass Lowell where she completed another doctoral science education degree with a focus on chemistry.
Professor Simon Thompson, Head of the School of Education & Social Work, said:
“We were delighted to host Dr Sumudu Lewis and her UTEACH cohort from Lowell University. During their short visit, they learned a great deal about STEM education in the UK and took much from their visits to our partnership schools and local cultural sites. We in turn benefited from their fresh perspectives, openness to question, and engagement with the practices of teaching STEM subjects. We very much hope that this will be the first of many opportunities to work with Lowell, and welcome future students to the School of Education and Social Work.”
UMass Lowell is global campus which encourages connections with organizations and institutions outside the United States to help students become Global Citizens.