Centre for Research in Post-Compulsory Education

Introduction

The Centre for Research in Post-Compulsory Education supports a variety of research activities. Members of the centre are interested in vocational education and training and lifelong learning, and work collaboratively with stakeholders drawn from partners within and outside the university. It engages directly with policy, theory, empirical and pedagogic practice, and is characterised by interdisciplinarity and collaborative work.

The Centre works closely with the Consortium for Post-Compulsory Education and Training (CPCET) that comprises 28 colleges of Further Education, working in partnership with the University, and located in the North of England.  They are involved in the delivery of in-service teacher education and foundation degrees.

A further partner is the University of Hudderfield Distributed Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (HUDCETT) whose focus includes enhancing the initial teacher training experience of trainees and cross-sector collaboration. Their work to highlight the commitment to excellence in teaching and practice-orientated research has been nationally recognised through the award of 'Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (CETT)' status to the School of Education and Professional Development in 2007.

Aims of the Centre for Research in Post-Compulsory Education

• To conduct and encourage research in the field of lifelong learning, vocational education and training, post-compulsory education and training (14-19 education and training, work-based learning, adult and community education, further education teacher training, enterprise/innovation education, etc).

• To provide a network and forum for researchers.

• To contribute to appropriate policy and scholarly debates.

• To bid for research funds.

• To support scholarly activity within the School of Education and Professional Development, CPCET and HUDCETT.

• To build research capacity within the School of Education and Professional Development, CPCET and HUDCETT.

• To encourage the publication and dissemination of research.

• To establish a national and international reputation for excellence in post-compulsory education and training, and research.

Educational Research

Educational Research is integral to our excellent reputation for developing professionals for all sectors of education and for related professions. Research activities are organised both within our Centre for Research in Post-Compulsory Education as well as around research groups led by our leading and developing researchers. Currently there are six groups:

• Action Research
• Early Years, Childhood, Youth and Community
• Policy
• Social Cohesion
• Teachers and Professionalism
• Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)

Educational researchers have strong links with the Centre for Applied Childhood Studies and the Academy for British and Irish Studies.  In addition pedagogical research aimed at enhancing teaching and learning experience and developing practitioners is conducted throughout the university.

For more information on the Education research area :  http://www.hud.ac.uk/research/researchareas/education/

Co-directors of the Centre

Prof James Avis

Dr Roy Fisher

Dr Robin Simmons