STAFF
— Roy L. Crole M.A. M.Math. Ph.D. (Cambridge) UDTF, SFHEA, CITP, FBCS, CSci, CMath, FIMA
Associate Professor in Computer Science
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Ken Edwards Building
School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences,
University of Leicester,
University Road,
Leicester,
LE1 7RH.
E: rlc3 at le dot ac dot uk
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Mini CV
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Biography
I attended The Maidstone School for Boys (now Oakwood Park Grammar
School) and Churchill College,
Cambridge. At Cambridge I read the Mathematical Tripos, and received
my MA degree and the Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics
(MMath) from the University of
Cambridge. I remained at Churchill College while undertaking
doctoral research, and was supervised by Professor Andrew Pitts FRS FACM at
the University of Cambridge
Computer Laboratory. I received a PhD degree for my thesis
Programming Metalogics with a Fixpoint Type. I then moved
to Imperial College in the
University of London, and conducted one year of postdoctoral research
funded by the ESPRIT project Categorical Logic in Computer
Science. I subsequently obtained an SERC (now EPSRC ) Open Research Fellowship and
remained at Imperial College for a further two years, before moving to Leicester.
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Books
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Teaching
I am a committed teacher who believes in a no-nonsense approach, but I apply good pedegogical principles wherever I feel they can make a difference.
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I recently created new 2+1 Degrees in Computer Science with
The Apollo University (TAU) , Chittoor. Our first students began at TAU in Autumn 2025. I also created and led the first Spring Week, where a team of Leicester Academics delivered a week of classes at TAU in April 2026; student rated 4.8/5.0.
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In 2025 and 2026 I was the Academic Lead on the University Planning Committee for the Thai Government ODOS Scheme. We bid successfully in 2025 and again in 2026. 50 students experienced Leicester for 6 weeks in Autumn 2025, and another cohort arrived in Spring 2026. As part of this I delivered a module, Processor Architecture Challenge, and co-led Poster Presentations in 2025.
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In July 2025 I graduated with a University Distinguished Teaching Fellowship.
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In 2023 I won the University's Citizens' Award for Teaching Excellence recognizing excellent teaching, high student satisfaction, and many years of work in curriculum design, Chartered Accreditation, and student and staff mentoring. I have also had Student Union Superstar Nominations for Lecturing and my role as a Personal Tutor.
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Perhaps one of the shortest student evaluation comments I've received, but was happy and humbled to see: "You can't improve on perfection".
- I have taught a Course on Computer Architecture
(MIPS and ARM) using flipped learning with Peer Assisted Learning tutorials. The approach
has led to high achievements and pass rates.
- In the past I have lectured on Denotational Semantics, Logic
and Discrete Structures, Game Theory (MSc), Modal Logic, Operational Semantics,
Theory of Functional Programming, Practice of Functional
Programming, Multi Media and Computer Graphics, Study Skills and Professional Practice (BSc).
- I regularly supervise third year BSc projects.
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Research
I develop the semantic theory, and implementations, of (meta)
languages for programming and computation. At its heart, the idea is
to develop new languages and better understand existing languages by
using rigourous semantics that support development of and reasoning
about programs. My research lies within the theoretical and
mathematical arenas of Computer Science. To find out more please see
the information and links below.
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Areas of Expertise:
Category Theory; Categorical Type Theory; Logic; Mechanized Reasoning;
Semantics of Programming Languages.
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Research Themes: Here is an
overview of my past research, and detailed descriptions of research themes.
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Publications, Notes and Articles:
HTML listing with downloadable files and BibTeX entries.
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Lecture and Course Material:
You can look at some of my postgraduate and undergraduate
courses and notes.
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The Midlands Graduate
School:
The Midlands Graduate School (MGS)
in the Foundations of Computing Science was established in 1999 by the
Universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham; I was Director
from 2014 to 2018. MGS has an International Reputation and is often funded by Global Industry. An annual Spring School is held over five days
during the Easter vacation period, and comprises a series of courses
on introductory, advanced, and emerging topics in the mathematical
foundations of computing. Its purpose is to educate and train future
leaders in Computing Science. We also run the MGS Christmas seminars,
consisting of an afternoon of research talks by both midlands and
invited speakers.
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Professional Societies:
See my
memberships and fellowships.
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Administration
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In 2026 I was appointed as TNE/International Director in Computing and Mathematical Sciences, and as college representative for the College of Science and Engineering.
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I am currently the School Academic Lead for an international partnership with the Apollo University, Chittoor, India; and for the Thai Government ODOS Programme.
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I am on the BCS Assessors Register for UK Chartered Accreditation of computing degrees; and on the IMA CAR Assessors Register for UK Chartered Accreditation of mathematics degrees.
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I represent the School at the London Mathematical Society.
- I recently completed four years as Director of Admissions and Recruitment for the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, and a couple of years on the School Management Group. My Admissions Team were finalists in the University's Citizens' Award for Student Recruitment and Retention in both 2022 and 2024; and we were nominated in both 2021 and 2023.
- I have held a wide range range of posts within the School, and
also the Faculty of Science (to 2010) and currently the College of
Science and Engineering (2010 onwards). From Summer 2018 to 2021
I was Deputy Head of School.
- I was the Academic Lead for the Design of the Percy Gee Laboratories, 2019-2021. These Computer Labs support teaching, and cover the fourth floor of the Percy Gee Building. Working with architects, Digital Services, the College of Science and Engineering, and consulting students and staff, this was a major university project.
- The School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences formed in 2021. I was appointed Academic Lead for the move to the Ken Edwards building. The work required planning, organisation, and foresight, with collaboration across the University. Strategic work involved budgeting, University Project Board and Contractor meetings, and creating a phase plan. Operational work involved floor planning, signage creation, a daily schedule, a communications repository and much more besides.
- My previous positions have included leadership roles such as
Academic (Teaching and Learning) Director; Undergraduate
Admissions Coordinator; Chair of the Teaching Committee, and of
the Curriculum Committee; Undergraduate Programmes Director;
member of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee, and College
Academic Committee; member of the Board of the Faculty of Science;
member of the Management Committee; Director of Part Time
Teaching; and QAA Coordinator.
I've been actively involved in,
sometimes chairing, a large range of School and University working
groups, and held a number of other School positions over many
years.
- I was the School Professional Accreditation Officer from 1998
to 2018. Our Undergraduate degrees are accredited up to and
including 2028 entry, folllowing a successful 2023 Accreditation
visit. I led the 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 visits, and substantially supported
the 2018 and 2023 visits.
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