Professional life and work
We focus on professional identities; professional knowledge and development; professional practice; work-based learning; professional and higher education; schooling, life-long learning, adult and community education. We support a critically reflective stance in practitioner research and are keen to promote research which focuses on how professional practice can facilitate learning in a wide range of contexts.
Group members
Current work
This includes research in educational regeneration, widening access, professional knowledge and professional identity. We have recently examined the transition of young people to post-compulsory education and training using survey, interview and focus group, working collaboratively with local community and learning providers. We actively work with service users where appropriate.
Research methods
Our programme draws upon our Centre’s experience of using mixed method approaches. We use both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including narrative approaches and use of national data to examine local and regional trends. We are developing survey techniques which complement and inform our work with professionals and their learners. We also undertake work on evaluation which complements our research programme and we work with a range of partners and across a wide number of contexts.