Sean Preston

Academic qualifications

MBA, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, PGCHE, SFHEA (Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy)

Email

spreston@ucb.ac.uk

"I am focused on improving student outcomes, supporting progression and continuation, and ensuring that academic provision is aligned with institutional strategy, regulatory expectations and employer needs."

I am a Deputy Dean for the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, and have extensive experience in academic leadership, curriculum design and quality enhancement.

My teaching interests lie in both Computer Science and Business, having previously taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in both subject areas. My work focuses on improving student outcomes, supporting progression and continuation, and ensuring that academic provision is aligned with institutional strategy, regulatory expectations and employer needs.

In my current role, I support academic staff across the Department of Computing and the Department of Engineering and Built Environment to enhance their teaching practice.

I have over a decade of experience in the UK higher education sector and previously held the roles of Director of Postgraduate Studies, Associate Dean and Head of Department of Technology. Until 2024, I was also a non-independent director on the University of Suffolk Governing Board.

I have significant experience in recruiting and working with international students, having previously represented UK institutions in Europe, China, India, Nigeria and Ghana.

At University College Birmingham, I am a member of the institution's Senior Management Team and numerous committees, including the Academic Quality and Student Experience Committee, Care-Experienced Steering Group, Access Participation and Equal Opportunities Group, Global Partnership Advisory Group, Student Outcomes Committee, and the Sustainability Steering Board.

Alongside my institutional responsibilities, I am actively involved in sector-facing and trustee-level activity, contributing to governance, partnership development and strategic educational projects.

I remain heavily engaged in external academic and industry communities, serving as an external examiner or external panel member at multiple UK institutions, including the University of Roehampton, Sunderland University, Northampton University, Birmingham Newman University, University of Worcester, and BPP.

I am the Education Liaison Officer and a committee member at the Birmingham branch of the British Computing Society (BCS), which is the chartered institute for IT. I am also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) and a Member of the Council of Professors and Heads of Computing.

Previously, I volunteered as an advisor and mentor at The King’s Trust and Career Ready. Today, I am a director and member of the Board of Trustees of The Inner Circle Education Trust, a charity that supports care-experienced young people into higher education.