Dr Robert Wilson

(he/him)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

I am interested in all aspects of learning, in particular mathematics education that focuses on the development of active and engaging learning environments.

Additional External Scholarship Activity

• Co-lead of the organising committee for the International CETL-MSOR conference. (2018-present). 
• Higher Education Teaching and Learning Series Workshop; Enhancing Mathematical Research and Scholarship, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (2022). 
• Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Workshop; Effective approaches to large group teaching in higher education mathematics, London Mathematical Society (2020)
• Higher Education Teaching and Learning Series Workshop; Effective feedback in mathematics: provision and student engagement, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (2019)

Selection of reports and publications

• External Assessor Report, Mathematics for Quantitative Problem Solving, Kings College London (2025)

• Programme Approval, Mathematics for the Modern World. Cardiff University (2025)

• Review on Scholarship Provision. Cardiff University (2023)

• Recognising Excellence in Teaching. Cardiff University (2022)

• Wilson, R. H., Pugh, M. J., and Guns, J., (2022) Effective feedback in mathematics: provision and student engagement, IMA Workshop Report [online]

• Step-Up Programme Plan, Mathematics and Numeracy, Cardiff University (2019) 
• Wilson, R. H., and Pugh, M. J. (2019) Effective feedback in mathematics: provision and student engagement, IMA Workshop Report [online]
• External Assessor Report, Mathematics and Statistics Help – MASH, Bath University (2018)
• Cardiff University Report, ACODE-UK Technology Enhanced Learning Benchmarking Summit (2017) [Australasian Council for Open, Distance and E-learning]
• Mathematics Summer School Programme, University of Namibia (2016)
• Gillard, J.W., Knight V.A., Vile, J.L., and Wilson, R., (2016). Rostering staff at a mathematics support service using a finite-source queueing model. IMA Journal of Management Mathematics 27(2), pp. 201-209.
• Coulman, S.A., Glaspole, S., Jarman, S., John, D.N.S., Williams, S., and Wilson, R., (2012). Inadequate numeracy skills of students entering the MPharm programme: diagnosing the problem. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 20(S1).
• Gillard, J.W., Robathan, K.J., and Wilson, R., (2012). Student perception of the effectiveness of mathematics support at Cardiff University. Teaching Mathematics and its Applications 31(2).
• Croft, A.C., Gillard, J.W., Grove, M.J., Kyle, J., Owen, A., Samuels, P.C., and Wilson, R., (2011). Tutoring in a Mathematics Support Centre - A Guide for Postgraduate Tutors.

Selection of funding awards

• Campaign for Mathematical Sciences: Maths Degrees of the Future Grants (2025). Funding £0.5M

• Research Culture Funding: Development of the Scholarship Community in Physical Sciences and Engineering (2025). Funding £1560

• Reaching Wider: Inspiring future generations of Mathematicians (2025). Funding £2990

• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Higher Education Teaching and Learning Series: Enhancing Mathematical Research and Scholarship (2022). Funding £500

• CUSEIP funding: Analysis of student perception of learning community and impact on success (2022). Funding £2200

• London Mathematical Society, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Effective
  approaches to large group teaching in higher education mathematics. (2019). Funding £1000

• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Higher Education Teaching and Learning Series: Effective feedback in mathematics: provision and student engagement (2018). Funding £500

• sigma resource development funding to produce a pocket guide for tutors working in maths support (2015). Funding £2000.

•  HE STEM programme funding on the Enhancement of Maths Support Service (2012). Total Funding £4000.

•  HE STEM programme funding for a Teacher Fellow and Student Shadowing Project (2012). Total funding: Teacher Fellow £30000; Student Shadowing Project £4000

• HE STEM programme funding to develop a pre-university learning resource for students making the transition to University Mathematics (2011). Total Funding £5200

Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

To maintain a focus on learning; providing opportunity for all students to reach their potential through exploring and investigating mathematical concepts in an active, challenging, and safe environment.

Current teaching

• MA1006 Foundation of Mathematics II
• MA2900 Problem Solving
• MA3901 Introduction to Secondary School Mathematics Teaching
• MA0391 Project

Additional teaching experience

• Mathematics Support Tutor
• Supervisor of collaborative undergraduate internship porjects
• Supervisor of postgraduate projects enhancing the student experience.
• Co-supervisor of PhD project. Learner Analytics: Learning about students and Institutions form Data.
• Academic lead for 2 core modules in the University (CPD) Academic Practice Programme (2017-2022).

Biography

Key roles and responsibilities

• Lead Applicant and Programme Lead for Mathematics for the Modern World (2025-present)

• Member of the London Mathematical Society Education Committee (2024-present)

• Head of Mathematics Undergraduate Year One Programmes (2023-present)

• Mentor-Assessor Education Fellowship Programme (2020-present)

• Chair of Mathematics Digital Learning Group (2020-2022)

• Chair of University Scholarship Steering Group (2022-2025)

• Academic Lead, Physical Sciences and Engineering Enhancement Group, Recognising Excellence in Teaching (2021-22)

• University Dean for Education Innovation, Cardiff University (2015-18)

• Mathematics Lead for Phoenix Project, UNAM and Cardiff University (2015-2018)

• Director of Learning and Teaching, School of Mathematics (2010-15)

• Director of University Maths Support Service (2005-2016, 2019-present)

Honours and awards

·       Excellence in Education and Lifelong Learning, Celebrating Excellence Awards (shortlisted 2025)

·       Most outstanding learning experience; Most outstanding use of the learning environment; Learning and Teaching Collaboration of the Year. Enriching Student Life Awards (nominated 2024)

·       Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship, Celebrating Excellence Awards (nominated 2023)

·       Most engaging staff member, Enriching Student Life Awards (nominated 2022)

·       Welsh language champion, Enriching Student Life Awards (shortlisted, 2020).

·       Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship Award (July 2019).

·       Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship, Celebrating Excellence Award (shortlisted November 2019).

·       Most Influential Member of Staff in the Final Year, School of Mathematics Awards (2017).

·       Vice Chancellor Award, Enriching Student Life Awards (shortlisted 2016).

·       Cardiff University Outstanding Contribution Award (2015).

·       Exceptional Enhancement of the Student Experience, Celebrating Excellence Award (shortlisted 2014).

·       Most uplifting Staff Member, Enriching Student Life Awards (shortlisted 2013).

·       National sigma prize for outstanding contribution in the field of mathematics and statistics support (2012).

·       Staff Member that has made the biggest difference to the student experience, Enriching Student Life Awards (2011).

Professional memberships

• National sigma-Network Steering Group (2017-present)
• Fellow Higher Education Academy (2007-present)
• Fellow Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (2019-2021)
• Member British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (2013-2023)

Academic positions

• Reader, School of Mathematics, Cardiff University (2020-present)
• Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematics, Cardiff University (2014-2020)
• Lecturer, School of Mathematics, Cardiff University (2010-2014)
• Mathematics Support Coordinator, School of Mathematics, Cardiff University (2007-2010)
• Teaching Assistant, School of Mathematics, Cardiff University (2001-2006)

Speaking engagements

·       Effective Teaching of Large Cohorts in Mathematics. Higher Education Teaching and Learning (June 2026)

·       Maths Degrees for the Future. The Future of Mathematics Higher Education Workshop. Isaac Newton Institute, University of Cambridge (November 2025)

·       Large Scale Flipped Learning in Mathematics. Practice and Research in Mathematical Sciences Education Seminar, University of Bath (November 2025)

·       Developing a Shared Perspective of Mathematics Scholarship in Higher Education. CETL-MSOR Conference, Liverpool University. (September 2025)

·       Flipping the Foundations. Pedagogical Research in STEM Seminar, University of Greenwich (May 2025)

·       Perspectives and Development of Scholarship through Practice. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning seminar series, Open University (March 2025)

·       Developing a Shared Perspective of Scholarship in Higher Education. Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference, Nottingham Trent University (July 2024)

·       Teaching and Scholarship: What does the ‘S” mean? Professorial Development Programme, Cardiff University (May 2024)

·       Flipped Learning in Mathematics. Mathematics Education Seminar, Bristol University (January 2024)

·       Reflections from the coalface. NTF Seminar Series, Cardiff University (October 2023)

·       Host of CETL-MSOR conference. Cardiff University (September 2023 & July 2014).

·       Continuing Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Mathematics, Statistics, and Operational Research. Idea exchange: early career mathematicians and statisticians teaching in Higher Education, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (May 2023)

·       Staff Scholarship Workshop. Cardiff University (April 2023)

·       Effective Feedback in Mathematics Workshop. Cardiff University (2023)

·       The New Normal: Revitalising the mathematics community. sigma Network Symposium, online (December 2022)

·       LearnFest Higher Education Symposium: Revitalising the Higher Education (November 2022)

·       Teaching and Learning Mathematics Online (TALMO) Workshop. Engaging students in online mathematics learning.(June 2020)

·       Learning and Teaching Conference, Cardiff University. Authentic assessment in Undergraduate Mathematics. (September 2019)

·       International CETL-MSOR Conference, Dublin City University. (3 papers): Maths Anxiety in Mathematics Undergraduates; 3 years on - Does it count? Undergraduate engagement with formative mathematics assessment. Motivation, Mind-set, and Mathematics. (September 2019)

·       sigma Network Workshop, Coventry University. Quality assurance for a mathematics support service. (March 2019)

·       Chemistry Education Symposium, Cardiff University. Motivation, Mind-set, and Mathematics. (March 2019)

·       International CETL-MSOR Conference, Glasgow University (2 papers). Embedding the practice of teaching mathematics in an undergraduate mathematics degree programme. Comparison of student engagement in traditional and active learning environment. (September 2018)

·       Advance HE Teaching & Learning Conference, Aston University, Supporting the transition to university Mathematics in sub-Saharan Africa. (July 2018) 

·       sigma-Network Workshop. Measuring the impact of Mathematics Support. “What are we trying to measure?” (April 2018)

Committees and reviewing

·       Board member of London Mathematical Society Education Committee (2024-present).

·       External Examiner, London School of Economics and Political Science (2024-present)

·       Co-lead of the organising committee for the International CETL-MSOR conference. (2018-present).

·       External Subject Specialist, Maths Degree of Future Programme, Kings College London (2025) 

·       External Assessor, Academic Promotion, Open University (2025)

·       External Examiner, Keele University (2021-2025)

·       External Assessor, Academic Promotion, London School of Economics and Political Science (2024)

·       External Examiner, PhD viva, Coventry University (2024)

·       External Examiner, Open University (2020-2024)

·       External Examiner, London Metropolitan University (2019-2023)

·       External Assessor, Academic Promotion, Liverpool University (2022)

·       External Assessor, Academic Promotion, Maynooth University (2021)

·       Editor MSOR Connections. A peer-reviewed journal relating to innovative learning, teaching, assessment and support in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research. (2015-2021).

·       Member National Network for Excellence in Mathematics (NNEM), Welsh Government, (2018-2020).

·       Reviewer for the Advance HE STEM conference (2018-2020).

·       External Assessor, Mathematics and Statistics Help – MASH, Bath University (2019).

·       Reviewer for the IMA journal, Teaching Mathematics and its Applications. (2015-present)

Supervisions

I am  interested in supervising PhD students in the area of Higher Education Mathematics Learning and Teaching.