Staff Profile

  • Erica is the Head of Academic Practice at the University of Northampton and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), awarded in 2015 for her sustained record of strategic impact on teaching quality at institutional, national and international level. She has a PhD in Educational Technology (The Open University, UK), a MSc in Knowledge-Based Systems and a BA(Hons) in Developmental Psychology (University of Sussex). Erica has a MA in Writing Poetry (University of Newcastle).

    Erica has expertise in quality enhancement, academic integrity strategy, assessment policy and practice, and educational evaluation, and is on the Editorial Board for the International Journal for Educational Integrity. She previously worked at Advance HE and the Higher Education Academy, where she led UK-wide initiatives, including the Academy JISC Academic Integrity Service, the Degree Standards project, the Grade Point Average (GPA) pilot project, and the Transforming Assessment in Higher Education programme. She has worked at Anglia Ruskin University, The Open University, and the University of Sussex.

  • Erica leads the strategic development of academic practice at the University of Northampton, focused on working collaboratively to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.

  • Erica has published in the fields of academic integrity, assessment and marking, learning technology research, and statistics education. In the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University, Erica undertook research on psychology students’ understanding of statistics, and the design and evaluation of technology-enhanced learning.

    Dr Erica Morris’s research publications and projects can be viewed on ORCID.

  • Erica has been an author of national guidance publications on academic integrity and assessment standards, including:

    Higher Education Academy (2015) Grade Point Average: Report of the GPA Pilot Project 2013-14. One of the experts who drafted the report: Professor Sue Bloxham, Professor Graham Curtis, Professor Philippa Levy, Dr Erica Morris and Dr Geoff Stoakes.

    Higher Education Academy (2012) A Marked Improvement: Transforming Assessment in Higher Education. The Higher Education Academy, UK.

    Morris, E. with Carroll, J. (2011) Policy Works: Recommendations for Reviewing Policy to Manage Unacceptable Academic Practice in Higher Education. The Academy JISC Academic Integrity Service, The Higher Education Academy, UK.

    Morris, E. et al (2010) Supporting Academic Integrity: Approaches and Resources for Higher Education. The Academy JISC Academic Integrity Service, The Higher Education Academy, UK.

    Erica has also authored institutional resources, such as:

    Morris, E. (2021) Understanding academic integrity: considering the extent of student academic misconduct in higher education. Watt Works Quick Guide, 33. Learning and Teaching Academy, Heriot-Watt University. https://lta.hw.ac.uk/resources/assessment-and-feedback/

    Morris, E. (2021) Understanding academic integrity: exploring explanatory factors in higher education. Watt Works Quick Guide, 34. Learning and Teaching Academy, Heriot-Watt University. https://lta.hw.ac.uk/resources/assessment-and-feedback/

    Morris, E. (2021) Understanding academic integrity: strategies and interventions in higher education. Watt Works Quick Guide, 35. Learning and Teaching Academy, Heriot-Watt University. https://lta.hw.ac.uk/resources/assessment-and-feedback/

    Morris, E., Brown, S. and Price, M. (2016-17) Anglia Assessment Album: guides on Assessment design; Assessing group work; Authentic assessment; Assessment matters for good academic practice; Assessment Strategy; Developing students’ assessment literacy; Inclusive assessment; Marking matters; Peer-review and peer-assessment; Self-assessment; Re-conceptualising feedback. Anglia Learning and Teaching, Anglia Ruskin University.