Research into Higher Education
Research into Higher Education
The Centre is a cross-university initiative which brings together researchers from many disciplines who have an interest in researching into higher education policy and practice. The Centre is headed by Professor Sue Clegg Chair of Higher Educational Research and Director of Research Students and is supported by a full-time Reader, Jacqueline Stevenson. The Centre held its launch event[L1] in 2007 which was attended by over 70 people.
The Centre encourages and supports research into all aspects of higher education policy, practice and pedagogy. The overall aim is to raise the profile of higher education research and scholarship and extend its range and creativity.
We are committed to extending research into teaching and learning with a particular emphasis on the implications of diversity and Widening Participation and have close links with the Centre for Diversity in the Professions and the work of the Technology Enhanced Learning Team as well as working closely with the Society for Research into Higher Education, Higher Education Academy, Aimhigher and Action on Access.
The Centre supports research which takes as its subject higher education in the broadest sense, including links with further education, students' trajectories on leaving higher education and issues around race, ethnicity, age and social class in relation to access and educational achievement. There has been a huge growth of research in the field coupled with a diversity of approach and the subjects of inquiry: work which explores student learning and extra-curricular experiences, research exploring the impact of newer pedagogical technologies including those associated with ICT, research into the governance and management of higher education, policy research, theoretical work exploring the impact of globalisation and newer meaning of higher education, as well as philosophical speculation about the purposes and nature of higher education.
The Centre will support the development of research through a series of initiatives. It runs a seminar series, with opportunities for colleagues to present work as well as invited external speakers. The most recent seminar series has as its theme Widening Participation and has brought together WP practitioners and academics as collaborators and presents. The Centre is also concerned with ethical practice in higher education and has delivered a series of seminars exploring ethical research and the ethics of widening participation. Resources from the seminar series can be accessed through the Centre.
The Centre will support capacity building including through its connections with the Regional University Network and through recruiting and supporting both part time and full time Doctoral students. The Centre has three full-time bursaried students: Milton Obamba, Sally Jones and Pauline Whelen; Sam Davis, David Killick, Linzi Anderson and Yinka Olusoga are studying part time.
Recent projects include work for the Higher education Academy, Aimhigher, Action on Access and Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund.
Please contact Professor Sue Clegg if you are interested in becoming involved in the Centre's activities, or would like more information: telephone 0113 8128625, email s.clegg@leedsmet.ac.uk
