Luciana De Martin Silva

Staff profile

Principal Lecturer & Teaching Development Scheme Lead

Luciana De Silva

Career Overview

I joined Hartpury in 2011, having previously worked at two other Universities in the UK. I completed a BSc (Hons) in Physical Education at the ‘Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais’ (Brazil) in 2002 followed by a MA in Education (Sports Coaching) at the University of Bath (England) in 2007 and a PhD in Sports Coaching at Cardiff Metropolitan University (Wales) in 2016.
Throughout the years, I acquired extensive experience teaching from level 4 to 7 as well as leading three academic programmes including undergraduate and postgraduate level. As the University Teaching Development Scheme (TDS) Lead I am also responsible for supporting mentors and co-planning, implementing and evaluating the TDS, which has been used by other Universities to inform their strategic review and/or Code of Practice and contributed to both Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) submissions which were awarded Gold (2017 and 2023).
Alongside my academic career, I have teaching experience as a qualified PE teacher in Brazil and as a Futsal Head Coach in a variety of settings including community as well as at national and international level (eg., 4th place in the Futsal European Championships with England Deaf Women's in 2018; FA Futsal Cup Champion in 2010 and 2015; Gold Medal playing for Brazil in the World University Games in China in 2001). I also founded the Hartpury University Women's Futsal team in 2012 and led the team for 10 years when we achieved promotion to the Premier Tier of the BUCS competition in 2022.


Finally, I have experience as an External Examiner/Validation panel member at five UK Institutions. Within this role, I have engaged in continuous dialogue with other Institutions which led to the enhancement of teaching and learning provisions.

Teaching and supervision

The main focus of my teaching currently is on Pedagogy and the research process.

  • Level 5 - Pedagogy in Action
  • Level 5 - Coaching and Teaching portfolio
  • Level 7 - The Scientific Coach (Research process)
  • Level 7 - Pedagogy in Practice
  • Level 6 (3rd year), 7 (MSc) and 8 (PhD) research supervision.

I have supervised a number of undergraduate and MSc projects as well as one PhD to completion.

Research interest

I have developed research relationships with other Higher Education institutions in Portugal, Brazil and UK. My research interests include:

  • Teaching and Learning experiences and Identity development (in PE, Sports Coaching and Higher Education);
  • Coach and Teacher development;
  • Social aspects in Coaching, PE and Higher Education.

Professional memberships

Member of the following SIGs:
  • Teacher Education and Development
  • Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy
  • Educational Leadership
  • Mental Health, Wellbeing and Education
  • Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy
  • Higher Education
  • Research Methodology in Education
  • University Academic Standard and Enhancement Committee (ASEC)

Sport degrees

Student Running On Treadmill