Jo Gallagher awarded prestigious Fulbright Global Challenges Teaching Award
Published: 22 June 2026
Jo Gallagher, Lecturer in Teacher Education, has been awarded the Fulbright Global Challenges Teaching Award in the theme of Peace and Democracy.
Jo Gallagher, Lecturer in Teacher Education in the School of Education, has been awarded the Fulbright Global Challenges Teaching Award in the theme of Peace and Democracy.
The collaboration, delivered jointly by the US-UK Fulbright Commission and COIL Connect, will support both lecturers to adapt their existing courses so that students in Scotland and the United States can learn together through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
Through the award, Jo has been matched with Dr JJ Sylvia at Fitchburg State University in the USA.
Jo’s course, Arts for Peace & Democracy, explores how arts-based pedagogies can support future teachers to engage pupils with themes of identity, participation, social justice, and democratic education. Dr Sylvia’s course, Data & Society, examines how data is used across communications media, including film production, video games, visual communication – while considering ethical questions around data visualisation, algorithms, privacy, and representation.
Together, the courses will allow students to explore how arts, media, film, data, and communication shape democratic life.
Jo said: "I am honoured to receive this award from the Fulbright Commission and excited to work with Dr J.J. Sylvia and colleagues at Fitchburg State University. I am particularly looking forward to creating meaningful intercultural exchange for our students, especially for those who may face barriers to traditional forms of international mobility. A key part of the project will be documenting the process so that lessons can be captured to support future COIL practice across the institution. This is a tremendous privilege, and I am very grateful for the support of colleagues in the School of Education, the wider College, and LISU."
Jo’s teaching and research are centred on arts-based pedagogy, Film and Screen education, creative partnerships, and social justice in teacher education. His work examines how schools, cultural organisations, and universities can collaborate through the arts to strengthen pupil voice, identity, participation, and community-connected learning. The Fulbright award will extend this work through an international partnership linking creative practice, media literacy, democratic participation, and inclusive global learning.
The project aligns with the University’s commitment to inclusive internationalisation, widening access to global learning, and socially engaged education.
First published: 22 June 2026