CTE staff profiles_hidden John Desire (JD) Our staff

John Desire is commonly known as JD at London Met. He joined the University in 1996 as an undergraduate on a Computer Science BSc degree. He is proof of the effectiveness of the widening participation culture developed here at London Met. He is very proud of being the first of the family to go to university.

In 2010, he became a permanent Senior Lecturer and also joined the Centre for Teaching Enhancement (CTE), where he actively contributes to the design, delivery and evaluation of professional development for both academic and professional-services staff for enhancing learning and teaching and the student experience through use of technology, and supports various learning and teaching and ICT projects. His main duties focus on how to develop and train staff in appropriate blended learning and teaching methods. 

Together with supporting academic staff to integrate and align their practice with University policies that currently include Education for Social Justice (ESJ), Decolonising the Curriculum and developing digital literacies in their learners. He also delivers individual modules on the Learning and Teaching in HE MA course. In May 2004, JD became a member of the British Computer Society (MBCS). In March 2005, he qualified for a European Computer Drivers License (ECDL). In December 2010, he received two awards from the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA). In May 2014, he was part of an EU project that visited Romania, to give support and offer advice to professors on how best to enhance student engagement in the learning process. He is also a fellow of the higher education authority (FHEA). 

Prior to studying at London Met, JD worked exclusively in sales ledger, as both Sales Ledger Supervisor and Credit Control Manager. His first professional qualification was gained in 1995 when he became a Member of the Institute of Credit Management (MICM). 

After gaining a 2.1 (Hons) degree in Computer Science from London Met in 2001, he went straight into teaching as a visiting lecturer on a number of modules. The subject areas were mainly mathematics, statistics and ICT. During this time he also worked on a number of widening participation projects that included Project Coordinator for the College of London, Project Supervisor for PGCE teacher trainees and eTutor for the College Links programme, which was aimed at supporting Year 10 and Year 11 excluded pupils.