It is with great sadness that we share the news that our former colleague, Dr Eric Hall, who worked in the School of Education for many decades and left a huge legacy, passed away last week.
Head of School of Education, Professor Volker Wedekind said "He will be greatly missed by many within our community and especially by those colleagues who worked alongside him during his outstanding career".
Dr Hall set up (with his colleague Arthur Wooster) an MEd Human Relations course in the 1970s, which was originally for teachers in further education and schools. The MEd course was the first 100% experiential masters course in the UK and modelled on the National Training Laboratory's approach. It was incredibly popular with teachers and also attracted educators from the schools of medicine, nursing, midwifery and veterinary practice here at the University of Nottingham.
Eric had worked with Carl Rogers, and his PhD was based on the creative experimentation aspects of Gestalt practice. He adapted this work for teachers to use in classrooms and infused the MED Human Relations with guided imagery, meditation, multi-sensory movement practices, process groups, counselling skills and group dynamics encounters. There were no lectures or seminars, but the learning was deep and meaningful.
Eric also set up a PGCert Counselling Skills for Teachers and one-week intensive courses for teachers (in easter and summer vacation) and there was always a waiting list for places.
Eric founded the Centre for the Study of Human Relations, which now continues it's work under the name Centre for Research in Human Flourishing.
Our thoughts go out to his wife, Professor Carol Hall, a former Head of School of Education, and family at this sad time.
Posted on Monday 15th July 2024