Rate My Professor Rachel Cragg

Professor Rachel Cragg is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning, Teaching and Student Success at the University of the West of Scotland, having joined the university in January 2024. She previously served as Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Digital at Buckinghamshire New University. Her career includes senior leadership roles at the University of Central Lancashire, where she was Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Development, and at the Open University as Director of Academic Planning and Resources. Prior to higher education, Professor Cragg spent a decade in police professional development, playing an instrumental role in the development and launch of the College of Policing, the world’s first professional body for policing, including positions such as Head of Learning Design and Development.

Beginning her academic career as a social and economic geographer, Professor Cragg has cultivated a keen interest in the role of universities in providing access to education for all, with particular emphasis on technical and vocational education. She has published on culture, change, and community in higher education, contributing to the 2022 edited volume Changes in the Higher Education Sector: Contemporary Drivers of Change and their Implications, including the chapter "What Constitutes Teaching Excellence?". At Buckinghamshire New University, she chaired the Race Equality Charter Team and participated in senate activities. In her current role at UWS, she oversees learning, teaching, and student success initiatives, serving as procedure owner for the Student Code of Conduct and Procedures. Professor Cragg has spoken at events like Student Success UK&IE and contributed to advancements such as the adoption of the D2L digital learning platform.