As a Director of Studies for Homerton, how do you motivate your students?
What would you like to achieve over the next five years?
I try to tailor how I work with my students to take account of people’s individual strengths, weaknesses and circumstances. Motivation is closely allied to confidence, and it can be hard to hold onto your confidence in Cambridge. I encourage my students to believe in themselves and to remember why they signed up for the kind of education which Cambridge offers. I push them hard – I want them constantly to strive to read more, think harder, write better – but you can only afford to have high expectations if you provide constant encouragement, try to make the experience pleasurable, and give practical advice on how to improve. When the standards are so high, it’s easy for students to lose sight of how much they are achieving, so I try to remind them of this. I also make a point of saying that it’s a positively good idea to have a day off once in a while, to keep things in perspective.
I am passionately committed to the importance of studying a subject for its own sake, and not merely as training for an eventual job. I think that a new Cambridge College with a unique history such as Homerton’s has an opportunity to play a leading role in
defending – and demonstrating – the vital significance of advanced study across the disciplines in a fast-changing world. Through my work with students, my research, and my participation in the institutional life of the College and the University, I want to help find creative and fair ways of ensuring that future young people, irrespective of background, have access to a worldclass education.
The second annual CUSU Teaching Awards, when students are invited to nominate any member of staff that has enhanced their learning experience at Cambridge, took place in May, and Dr Louise Joy won in the ‘Pastoral’ category. Here is a selection of her nominations: “Louise has gone far beyond the call of duty to help us through this stressful year in our degree...She has the perspective to get outside the Cambridge ‘bubble’ and highlight what is really important, which is rare to find in a supervisor.” “Her breadth of knowledge and clarity of communicating ideas is exceptional. I honestly can’t praise her enough, she is an incredible academic who cares so much for her students, and makes sure her students know she is just at the end of a phone call or email if we need her support at any time.” “Her supervisions are hugely rigorous but her style is never aggressive…Louise demonstrates a genuine care for the students as people as well as for their academic needs. She has consistently pushed and encouraged me in a way that other supervisors sometimes become complacent about.” “Louise organizes a number of informal meetings every term to keep our spirits up (with the aid of cake!)” “Cambridge can be tough, and Louise does everything she can to make it that little bit easier for us all. I really am grateful for her advice, encouragement and total support.”
HOMERTON COLLEGE
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