Education Leader · Social Activist · Founder

Advancing
Inclusive Education
& Social Justice.

Academic, educator, and civil society leader dedicated to improving educational quality, equity, and global advocacy.

Point of Light Award & British Citizen Award (Healthcare) Recipient
Dr Adam Tate — education leader, academic, and founder of Fahr Beyond, photographed in a warm professional setting
Arden University Senior Lecturer
Points of Light Award Civil Society Recognition
Fahr Beyond Founder & Director
University of Oxford MSc Graduate
Dr Adam Tate, Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Assessment at Arden University

About Dr Adam Tate

A career defined by
purpose and impact.

Dr Adam Tate is a distinguished academic, education leader, social advocate, and health ambassador based in the United Kingdom. As Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Assessment at Arden University and Director of Education for International Performing Arts and Theatre, Adam brings more than fifteen years of experience shaping the futures of students across higher education. He is committed to providing more opportunities for disadvantaged and under-represented communities, such as those living with Fahr's Disease.

His work spans curriculum design, assessment strategy, inclusive pedagogy, and educational quality assurance. Previously Senior Lecturer in Academic Practice at Nottingham Trent University — where he led the UK's largest Academic Professional Apprenticeship provision with the highest Distinction rate in the country — and Associate Lecturer in Educational Development at Oxford Brookes University, Adam has built a career at the intersection of rigorous scholarship and compassionate teaching.

Holding a PhD in Education from Oxford Brookes University, an MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy from the University of Oxford, a PGCE from the University of Roehampton, and a First-Class BSc in Geography from Aberystwyth University, Adam combines elite academic preparation with a genuine commitment to student success, equity, and lifelong learning. He is also the founder of Fahr Beyond — the world's only registered charity dedicated to Fahr's Disease, transforming the lives of those living with the condition.

Inclusive Education Curriculum Design Assessment Educational Leadership Social Justice Student Success

Academic Qualifications

Educated at
the world's finest institutions.

PhD in Education

Oxford Brookes University

Doctoral research into how higher education student behaviours are influenced by state policies and physical spaces.

MSc Nature, Society & Environmental Policy

University of Oxford

Postgraduate study at one of the world's most prestigious universities, providing a robust research skill set and policy engagement for geographic and environmental issues.

Level 7 Associate Teacher (Learning & Teaching in Higher Education)

Oxford Brookes University

Postgraduate qualification in learning and teaching in higher education, mapped to Associate Fellow of Advance HE, developing the evidence-based academic practice.

PGCE

University of Roehampton

Postgraduate qualification in education leading to Qualified Teacher Status, awarded a Distinction with best Professional Studies for evidence-based pedagogy.

BSc Geography — First Class

Aberystwyth University

First-Class Honours degree in Geography, the foundation of a career built on analytical rigour, environmental understanding, and academic excellence.

Dr Adam Tate at his PhD graduation ceremony, celebrating academic excellence

Milestone

PhD Graduation — the culmination of years of dedicated research and scholarship.

Research & Educational Leadership

Where knowledge
meets practice.

Adam's research and leadership span a range of key focus areas and issues in education, from inclusive assessment to navigating complex regulatory systems. His work in education has called for greater efforts for access and participation, to build a more equitable sector. Furthermore, Adam has shaped a raft of research into Fahr's Disease.

Curriculum Development & Assessment

Designing inclusive, rigorous curricula that meet diverse learner needs across higher education contexts.

Inclusive Education

Championing access, participation, and success for students from all backgrounds, abilities, and life experiences.

Educational Leadership

Leading academic teams, quality frameworks, and institutional strategy with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Student Success & Wellbeing

Research and practice focused on student behaviour, retention, mental health, and holistic academic achievement.

Quality Assurance in HE

Ensuring rigorous academic standards through institutional review, regulatory frameworks, and continuous improvement.

Social Justice & Equity

Advocating for systemic change in education policy and practice to close inequity gaps at national and international scale.

Public Leadership & Civil Society

Service beyond
the lecture hall.

Adam's impact extends far beyond academia. As a recognised public leader, he has represented his country, supported youth development, and contributed to global conversations on education, equity, and governance. His work with the world's most respected civil society organisations speaks to a lifelong commitment to service and change.

Points of Light Award Recognised for outstanding voluntary service and extraordinary contribution to society.
Dr Adam Tate at the Institute for Equity University Centre
  • Royal Commonwealth Society

    Mentor & Associate Fellow

  • The Scouts

    Leader, Manager & Trainer

  • Commonwealth Youth Parliament

    Representative for the UK

  • European Parliament

    Representative for WOSM European Region

  • Queen's Young Leaders Programme

    Mentor

  • World Non-Formal Education Forum

    Research Shaper

Fahr Beyond

A diagnosis became
a global mission.

Having received a diagnosis of Fahr's Disease in 2014, Adam recognised a critical gap in specific support for people living with Fahr's Disease and their caregivers. So, in 2016, he founded Fahr Beyond, which is currently the world's only registered charity dedicated to Fahr's Disease. Since the charity was established, it has supported, empowered, and provided better outcomes for over 400 people with Fahr's and their families.

Working with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Fahr Beyond has helped develop a new diagnostic and management framework, established a medical team to create a national specialist Fahr's Disease clinic, and campaigned for Fahr's to be recognised in NICE guidance and the UK's Rare Disease Strategy. The charity has also supported the investment of over £1.5 million into Fahr's research, with its educational resources viewed more than 200,000 times.

As a global advocate for the Fahr's community, Adam works with clinicians and the pharmaceutical sector to advance diagnosis, management, and treatment possibilities — work that has led to two international studies. Fahr Beyond represents the intersection of his personal journey, his commitment to social justice, and his belief that every person deserves exceptional care, community, and hope.

Discover Fahr Beyond
Dr Adam Tate receiving the Points of Light Award — recognition of his extraordinary voluntary service
400+ People with Fahr's and
families supported
£1.5M+ Investment into
Fahr's research

Publications & Insights

Knowledge shared,
research published.

Research articles, academic updates, and personal reflections — exploring inclusive education, higher education leadership, and the realities of patient advocacy.

Research 2025

Access and Participation Plans of Universities in England (2020–2024): What Do They Really Say About Social Mobility?

Tate & Glazzard — published in Equity in Education & Society. An analysis of how language is used to describe social mobility in the Access and Participation Plans of English universities.

View Publication
Research 2024

Including LGBTQ+ Early Career Higher Education Staff: Learning from the Policy and Practice for Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

Tate & Glazzard — published in Higher Education Research & Development. Addressing the gap in research on the experiences of LGBTQ+ early career academics in UK higher education.

View Publication
Research 2024

Immersed in the Transitioning Higher Education Sector: The Impact of Transitions in the Higher Education Sector in England on Staff and Students

Tate & Glazzard — published in the International Journal of Educational and Life Transitions. How the marketisation of UK higher education creates multiple transitions for staff and students.

View Publication
Research 2023

A Nudge for Positive Behaviours: Digital Nudging in Higher Education

Tate — published in the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. Exploring digital nudging in virtual learning environments and its ethical implications amid the rise of AI.

View Publication
Research 2025

Reclaiming Initial Teacher Education in Universities: Moving Beyond a Technicist Model

Glazzard & Tate — published in Policy Futures in Education. A response to increased regulation and marketisation of Initial Teacher Education in England since 2021.

View Publication
Research 2024

The 'Model' Student: How Undergraduate Behaviours Are Shaped by State Power in English Higher Education

Tate — PhD thesis, Oxford Brookes University. A doctoral study of how full-time undergraduate students' behaviours and practices are shaped by universities as an extension of the soft power of the State.

View Thesis
Research 2025

Report on the International Survey into Fahr's Disease Patient Experience

Tate — a Fahr Beyond report capturing the lived experience of patients with Fahr's Disease worldwide, informing diagnosis, management, and advocacy.

View Report
Research 2022

Engaging and Empowering Early-Career Academics: An Active Learning Curriculum Design for the APA/PGCLTHE

Fox, Cope, Tate & Breckin — book chapter in 100 Ideas for Active Learning. A curriculum design approach for developing early-career academics through active learning.

View Chapter
Research 2025

Using an Ongoing Formative Feedback Approach to Support Early Career Academics Make Progress Towards Their End Point Assessment

Fox & Tate — book chapter in Formative Assessment and Feedback in Post-Digital Learning Environments. How ongoing formative feedback supports early-career academics towards their end-point assessment.

View Chapter
Update August 2025

New Role: Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Assessment, Arden University

Dr Adam Tate joins Arden University, enhancing assessment and feedback practice across the university and facilitating the design of inclusive courses and curricula.

Read More
Update 2026

World Parkinson Congress 2026 — Fahr's Disease: Where Are We At with This Parkinsonism?

Tate & Batla present at the World Parkinson Congress 2026, continuing a series of international conference contributions on Fahr's Disease and patient perspectives.

Read More
Update 2024

Adam Presented with the University of Roehampton Chancellor's Alumni Award

Adam was one of 20 alumni honoured with the University of Roehampton's Chancellor's Alumni Award in 2024, marking the university's 20th anniversary and celebrating outstanding alumni contributions.

Read More
Update January 2023

Founder of Fahr Beyond Recognised with a British Citizen Award

Adam was honoured with a British Citizen Award (Healthcare) in January 2023, recognising his exceptional services to the Fahr's community and wider society.

Read More
Update 2023

Adam Awarded a Point of Light by the Prime Minister

Named the 2,006th Point of Light by the Prime Minister, Adam was recognised for his sustained voluntary work — most notably establishing Fahr Beyond and transforming support for those living with Fahr's Disease.

Read More
Insight December 2024

On Living with Fahr's Disease: A Personal and Professional Reflection

Being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition while working as an academic taught me more about resilience, advocacy, and the gaps in our healthcare system than any textbook ever could.

Read Insight

New on YouTube

66 Seconds
with Dr Adam.

Dr Adam Tate's new YouTube channel makes complex academic practice and higher education policy clear and accessible — one idea at a time. Each video is a sharp, 66-second explainer designed to inform educators, students, and leaders on the move.

66-second explainers Academic practice & HE policy
Visit the Channel

Get in Touch

Let's start
a conversation.

Adam is open to work and ideas related to his areas of expertise; he is particularly keen to work with organisations on educational consultancy projects. Whether you're looking to collaborate on research, invite Adam to speak at your institution or conference, design and deliver training, discuss consultancy, or learn more about Fahr Beyond, then Adam would love to hear from you.