Nathan Dodzo
Nathan Dodzo is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Creative Film, Television and Digital Media Production; with extensive leadership, teaching, broadcast and journalism experience, and the ability and skills to translate these into effective and meaningful learning. He completed his MA in Media Production from Coventry University with Distinction, and has held QTS status for almost two decades. He successfully completed the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders and he has also obtained his Fellowship to the Higher Education Academy.
As an International Political Video Journalist and broadcaster, he produced and edited news packages various international news agencies including SABC, CBS News (60 minutes), Reuters, BBC World Service, Sky News and ITN. He has also worked on several film, documentary and drama productions; set up his own social enterprise, and production and advertising companies; as well as with working with UNESCO to provide training for new entrants and media professional on using digital video cameras and editing software.
His research interests are in education, student attainment, and youth enterprise and employment. Through research, he wants to be part of a movement that revolutionises the way educators impart knowledge; creating a better understanding of our surrounding and adding a deeper meaning to the role of today’s educator. Students are looking for a different type of education, one that best prepares them for the working world to come and not one that “sets them up to fail”. In the words of John Dewey, “if we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we are robbing them of tomorrow”. As an educator, he sees a growing need for an inclusive curriculum that allows for diversity, and one that also considers enterprise education in line with the employment trends of the future.
In terms of generating research and revenue, he has a proven track record in attracting additional funding and support for educational and vocational projects across statutory, community and private sectors, from grant-making trusts to EU funded projects. One example of this includes the Youth Enterprise and Unemployment (YEU) across Europe project looking at pan-European youth employment, entrepreneurship and education. Under my remit, he was in charge of the research work package, from research strategy and design to coordinating a team of educationalists, business professionals and government officials in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research activity, tracking the findings from seven EU countries. He produced a final report which was disseminated to national governments, and here in the UK, it fed into a Call for Action from House of Lords on enterprise and career guidance for Young People. Currently his research focuses on the attainment gap in HE, having authored and lead on a collaborative research project looking into the challenges faced by BAME students and the impact on the attainment gap.
He has designed, developed and delivered industry recognised vocational programmes, utilising his extensive experience and expertise in working with employers in the creative sector, to create courses and work experience opportunities that meet the needs of both employers and students from diverse backgrounds. In 2015, he worked closely with Creative Skillset to develop a framework for accrediting good practice at Level 3 and, in doing so, successfully led his BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma qualification towards being the first ever course in Digital Media in the country to gain Creative Skillset accreditation at Level 3.
He strongly believes in partnership working, and continues to enjoy effective relationships with business and industry. He has been a member of various strategy groups comprising of employers, educational and intermediary institutions and policy makers, allowing him to contribute to future creative and digital arts sector development; regularly attending meetings as part of the Smart Cities initiative focused on the development of the creative sector within the West Midlands region; sitting on a Coding Strategy Group on developing young peoples’ ability to code in line with future job prospects; participating in the Coventry City of Culture Bid. He currently sits on the boards of The Belgrade Theatre, also chairing the Arts Policy Committee; Mercurial Arts; and is a Vice-Chair of Good Shephard Catholic Primary School board of Governors.
Over the past 12 years, he has supported the development of The Learning and Skills Improvement Service‘s (LSIS) work in quality improvement, and raising standards in learning and skills sectors, through outlining ‘how digital skills’ could enhance the support they give to education establishments. He is an accredited mentor, a role which has seen him guide and support several new, and trainee teachers from Warwick University, BCU and the University of Northampton; adding to their skills, training and employability prospects, and overall knowledge and understanding of the sector. He has worked with the Chamber of Commerce as an active ambassador for Young Chamber feeding into the Young People’s Enterprise Centre of Expertise Report (YPECOE), and working with interns to produce video content for online platforms that support young people with their business and enterprise ideas.