Jenny Hoy

Jenny Hoy (BPA (hons), PGCE (PCET))

Head of the Centre for Open Learning and CAHSS Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Centre for Open Learning
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Email: jenny.hoy@ed.ac.uk

Centre for Open Learning

Street: G27, Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road
City: Edinburgh
Post code: EH8 8AQ

Monday - Friday 09:00 - 18:00

Biography

Background

I am currently Head of the Centre for Open Learning (Head of School) and Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. My academic background is in Music performance (as a percussionist) and I started my teaching career at 17 whilst I was a student at Leeds Conservatoire. From here, I balanced my teaching commitments across a number of organisations including Leeds City Council outreach and arts provision, and primary and secondary schools in York. As part of a portfolio career of teaching and music performance, my main appointment was at the conservatoire as an FE and HE Lecturer. As I moved into leadership roles I focused on the conservatoire’s public Short Courses, Foundation Certificate and Junior Conservatoire provision for young musicians, which was the first in a UK conservatoire to include music production with a focus on encouraging young female producers and improving accessibility to the Arts. Committed to inclusion and learning from the experience of others, I am a firm believer in the transformative power of education. Throughout my career, I have taught and developed community education and outreach projects across the UK, including a Paul Hamlyn funded research project into educational transitions which informed my postgraduate studies in education. I continue to perform and record as a musician where I can (Corinne Bailey-Rae, Beccy Owen and The Refuge, La Banda Europa, Netflix's Outlaw King). I am a proud Board Director of Leeds Conservatoire and a Trustee of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning. I am the current convenor of the University's Student Discipline Committee.

A few words about the Centre for Open Learning

The Centre for Open Learning is home to the University’s continuing education provision, foundation and access programmes, seasonal provision, and English Language Education department. Each year we see approximately 14,000 enrolments, many of whom are international students, part-time learners, adult returners to education etc. Our contribution to the University and its commitments to internationalisation, lifelong learning and widening access and participation are significant.

Responsibilities & affiliations

Vibraphone on Grammy Award winning Corinne Bailey Rae’s US bestselling album ‘The Heart Speaks in Whispers’ (2016) Tracks – Tell Me, Green Aphrodisiac, Walk On, Night. Corinne Bailey Rae – The Heart Speaks In Whispers (2016, CD) - Discogs. President Obama Shares New Jam-Filled Summer Playlists | Billboard | Billboard The track ‘Green Aphrodisiac’ was included in President Obama’s Summer 2016 ‘Evening’ playlist.

Percussionist on Netflix’s $100 million Outlaw King (2018) https://www.air-edel.co.uk/an-interview-withoutlaw-king-diegetic-music-composer-producer-jim-sutherland-and-on-set-music-supervisor-chantellewoodnutt/

Percussionist and member of Beccy Owen’s Refuge (2019 - ) https://www.only-innewcastle.co.uk/words/beccy-owen-finds-her-refuge/. I perform on all tracks of the 2019 album Chaotica https://open.spotify.com/album/4erjU8ez2mV0xNNmgM9WpM

Tracks from this well-reviewed album have been played on BBC Radio 6 (Tom Robinson and Steve Lamacq), BBC Radio North East, BBC Introducing.

I was the first female percussionist to be signed to the Oscar and Grammy nominated Black Dyke Mills Band (2000-2002). During my two years with the Band, I performed and recorded with world-famous percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, composer Sir James Macmillan, and toured the UK and Europe. https://www.blackdykeband.co.uk/the-band/

Leeds Conservatoire – Board of Directors (Director); Leeds Conservatoire Audit Committee (member) – I contribute my experience of educational management, the music industry and EDI. Leeds Conservatoire appoints new Chair and Vice-Chair to the Board of Directors

I am the Link Governor for Safeguarding and Prevent at Leeds Conservatoire

Luminate Education Group Board (Director as Chair of Leeds Conservatoire Board); Luminate Education Group Remuneration Committee (member as Director, Luminate Board); Luminate Education Group informal meeting of Board Chairs within the Group Luminate Education Group – Welcome to Luminate Education Group

I am a member of the Percussive Arts Society https://www.pas.org/

I am a member and mentor for Arts Emergency https://www.arts-emergency.org/

In January 2020 and again in March 2021, I was External Examiner for the new collaborative Access Programmes (Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences) between Queen’s University, Belfast and the FE Colleges, Belfast Met and South Eastern Regional College.

In November 2023 I was an External Reviewer for the University of Strathclyde's Quinquennial Review of their Centre for Lifelong Learning

Media

In the press