At the last international conference of the Society for Research Into Higher Education in December, our colleague Prof. Sarah Montano of the University of Birmingham Business School was awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Society, alongside other important contributors to research in HE over the decades, such as Gerlese Akerlind, Paul Ashwin, Sue Clegg, Heidi Safia Mirza and Celia Whitchurch among others. This was a great honour, and recognition of Prof. Montano’s contribution to scholarship and research into higher education, and evidence-based practice which positively impacts student outcomes. Join us in congratulating Sarah.
In this piece, Prof. Montano reflects on her journey and specifically this recognition.
I was humbled and honoured to be awarded an SRHE Fellowship at the Conference in December. I am privileged to be part of a community that is committed to advancing educational practice. SRHE is special to me as when I came back into academia, I was warmly welcomed and supported by SRHE members. This is not just a personal achievement, it is testament to the brilliant educational innovations happening across the University. I was delighted that there to share the experience were my wonderful university and school colleagues.
I would never have imagined that when I started my academic career, I would have had the opportunities that I have had or attained such awards. I am a first-generation university student who found student life really difficult. When I became an academic, I reflected that these difficulties were due to how I acutely lacked social capital. This realisation inspired me to make my pedagogical philosophy to ensure equality of access and opportunity for students. I have been determined that students will have the education currency to thrive, no matter what their journey to university has been. Inspired by my first career in retail I have developed industry relevant authentic assessments and an experiential learning model that ensures that students have the employability skills needed to succeed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Most notably the so-called human skills of creativity and innovation. It is this drive to ensure that students will thrive that motivates me every day.
In my current role as Birmingham Business School’s Director of Education, I am privileged to work with colleagues who also strive to innovate their education practice and create an inclusive environment where all students will succeed. The SRHE Fellowship reinforces the importance of excellence in education, and I am also delighted to be mentoring the next generation of educators.
Life can be strange at times and in 2023 on a Monday I found out I would be awarded a National Teaching Fellowship and on the Wednesday my promotion application to be a Professor was successful. That was not a bad week! To be in the esteemed company of my fellow 2023 NTF winners and the 2025 SRHE Fellows is almost like a dream. My fellow winners are quite incredible and what connects is that drive that education can be better – that despite the seismic challenges currently in HE, we are determined to make higher education a better place for students and academics alike. The challenges may be substantial, but that change is needed and that change can be achieved.
I am profoundly grateful to SRHE for giving me a home and support all those years ago and now an SRHE Fellowship. Looking forward to seeing what 2026 brings!
Sarah Montano is a Professor of Retail Marketing, PFHEA and NTF, and Director of Education at the Birmingham Business School.
Images courtesy of Sarah Montano and the SRHE.
Education in Practice Network 
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