The University of Roehampton is delighted to announce that Dr Vaithehy Shanmuganathan-Felton, Deputy Dean (Student Education) in the School of Psychology, has been appointed as the new Chair of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Partnership and Accreditation Committee.
The committee plays a vital role in promoting excellence in psychology education. It ensures that the next generation of psychology professionals receive the highest quality training and educational support. Dr Shanmuganathan-Felton’s leadership will contribute significantly to this mission, with her role central to the BPS higher education accreditation programme.
Dr Shanmuganathan-Felton is an Associate Fellow of the BPS and a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. She served as Chair of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) training committee, overseeing the review of accreditation standards, the development of supplementary guidance for stage one programmes, and, more recently, a data-gathering exercise exploring staff-student ratios in Sport and Exercise Psychology stage one programmes. She has contributed to several working groups focused on BPS standards and equality, diversity, and inclusion, and has previously held the post of Secretary for the DSEP committee. Beyond these responsibilities, she has undertaken numerous external examining roles across both undergraduate and postgraduate provision and is a member of the School Standards Board for a local primary school.
With 14 years’ experience in higher education, Dr Shanmuganathan-Felton has established a strong record in curriculum development, student experience and outcomes, and quality assurance. She is a committed advocate for education as a driver of social mobility, working to enhance outcomes and experiences for students from all backgrounds.
Dr Shanmuganathan-Felton said of her appointment, “I am honoured to be appointed Chair of the Partnership and Accreditation Committee. This is a critical time for our sector and discipline, and I look forward to working with partners across the sector to address current and emerging challenges, promote excellence and innovation, and uphold the highest standards in education and training. Together, we can ensure our students, trainees, practitioners, and the wider workforce continue to benefit from world-class education and training.”
Yannis Fronimos, Dean of the School of Psychology, said, “I am immensely proud to see Dr Vaithehy Shanmuganathan-Felton appointed as Chair of the Partnership and Accreditation Committee of the British Psychological Society. This achievement is a testament not only to her personal excellence and leadership but also to the strength of our School in contributing to the development and governance of the discipline. We take great pride in seeing our colleagues shape psychology nationally and internationally, and this appointment reflects the impact and reputation of our academic community.”
