Ms Deborah Southerland

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  • Position:Programme Leader BA Hons Fashion Textiles
  • Department:Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries, and Education (ACE)
  • Telephone:+4411732 84707

About me

Deb Southerland is a Senior Lecturer + Programme Leader of BA Hons Fashion Textiles.

Deb is a Senior Fellow of the HEA. (SFHEA.)

As Programme Leader Deb oversees all areas of the Programmes design and delivery; this includes strategic, and curriculum development, as well as operational planning and management. During her time at UWE she has delivered in a number of Academic and Leadership roles as Module Leader, Programme Leader and Interim Associate Head of Department. (fixed term). Deb has an extensive track record of innovative curriculum development across UG / PG programmes and has led new programme curriculum development teams at UG + PG level and was a Dept lead in the 22/23 Pass / Fail pilot for UG students at L4.

As Industry lead for the programme Deb has brokered sponsored and collaborative opportunities for students that include live briefs with John Lewis, Henri Lloyd, French Connection, Max Mara, Superdry, Shield 360 and Phoebe English. In addition to Industry liaison work, Deb leads on the design and delivery of the Programmes annual Showcase and networking events which have included London Fashion Week Digital, Graduate Fashion Week, New Designers, Premier Vision Paris as well as Fashion events at Arnolfini and the annual Degree Show.

Deb is the Teaching and Learning lead on the Steering Group for the Fashion Textiles Subject Association (FTC), and whilst in this Role established and continues to deliver an annual series of 'Teaching and Learning Breakfast Events' curating high talks from Speakers from across Industry and HE. The series aims to respond to emergent shifts within Industry practice and Subject pedagogy; and to provoke reflection, debate and development in response to these.   

Deb's Studio pedagogy focuses on the following broadly defined areas: Research methodologies and ideation, design thinking and alternative modes of Fashion production.

Within these areas, Deb works with Students to facilitate an exploration of critical and expanded Fashion Practices wherein Students can synthesise their individual strengths, creative vision and professional ambitions.

In addition to her Programme Leader Role Deb is L6 lead for the Fashion Textiles programme and Module Leader for

Professional Practice in Fashion Textiles 1

Preparation for Extended Study in Fashion Textiles 15c + 30c

Extended Study in Fashion Textiles 30c + 45c

Fashion Textiles Professional Development on Placement 30c


Area of expertise

External to UWE Deb curates and Chairs the annual online Learning and Teaching events series for the Association of Fashion Textile Courses - FTC, The events are open to all 55 Member Institutions in the UK and seek to provide a forum for critical debate, reflection and planning across all areas of Fashion Textiles pedagogy and practice. Information about selected events is available here. 

 

Supporting students and avoiding academic burnout in this online COVID world.  Feb 2021 Event session with Guest Speaker Vicky Fong RCA and Chaired by Deb Southerland – looking at the ways new teaching and learning strategies were developed to support and inspire student communities during lockdown. Emphasis being placed on the development of autonomy, productivity and a positive sense of community, whilst avoiding excessive workloads and Burn-out for Students and Staff. 19. 

 

Global and Sector Challenges and the effects on locating Graduate Audiences  Mar 2021 In this event DS hosted and Chaired Presentations + Discussions with a Panel of Speakers that included; Head of Government Relations & Education, British Fashion Council, Event Director, New Designers, Director of Brand Partnerships, Graduate Fashion Foundation & Graduate Fashion Week, Co-Founder // Co-President, Artsthread

 

'Designing Fashion's Future: Present Practice and Tactics for Sustainable Change'  Dec 2022

DS hosted and chaired the Panel discussion for Dr Alice Payne Associate Professor in Fashion in the School of Design, Queensland University of Technology. Alice is co-leader of the research group TextileR: Future Textile Industries and the session focused on environmental and social sustainability issues throughout the life cycle of clothing. 

 

NSEAD + TFC – Whats happening with Key Stage 3? Fri 2nd Dec 2022 The Chaired presentation event bought together Colleagues from FTC Member Institutions and the President of NSEAD the Professional Body for Art, Craft and Design Educators. looking at the impact of Key Stage 3 curriculum content and development on HE and L4 recruitment and delivery. The event provided a forum for discussion on how the 2 two organisations can position collaborative intent to lobby for a more relevant curriculum offer in Schools.

Unpaid Placements - Looking at current practice and how to protect Students   //  Nov 2023. This event hosted presentations from Manufacturing Consultant UKFT  and Managing Director GGHQ Fashion Intelligence, with a Chaired discussion examining the prevalence of unpaid placements across the Fashion Textile Industries and the legislation that's currently in place to protect Students and employers.  


Publications

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