Professor Lyn Tettl.tett@hud.ac.uk | 01484 478240
Lyn joined the School of Education and Professional Development as Professor of Community Education. Lyn studied psychology at the Open University part time whilst her children were young and then worked as an adult education development officer for Argyll and Bute Council's community education service for ten years. After that she moved to Edinburgh to become the deputy director of the Scottish Community Education Council responsible for training and adult education for 5 years and then joined Moray House Institute of Education as the Director of Community Education in 1992. During this time she also studied part-time for her MSc in Community Education. She was appointed as Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Higher and Community Education, University of Edinburgh in 1996. She was awarded a personal chair in Community Education and Lifelong Learning there in 2002 and became Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange for the Moray House School of Education in 2008.
She made an Emeritus Professor at the University of Edinburgh in 2011. She is active in the profession of Community Education and is currently Chair of the Scottish Government’s Adult Literacies 2020 working group on professional development.
Lyn’s interests lie within the broad area of community education and lifelong learning. Her research has involved an investigation of the factors such as class, gender, disability that lead to the exclusion of adults from post-compulsory education and of the action that might be taken to promote social inclusion. It has focussed on three main areas. These are:
Weedon, E. and Tett, L. (2013) ‘Plugging a gap? Soft skills courses and learning for work’ International Journal of Lifelong Education , pp. 1-18. ISSN 0260-1370
Mackie, A. and Tett, L. (2013) ‘‘Participatory parity’, young people and policy in Scotland’ Journal of Education Policy , pp. 1-18. ISSN 0268-0939
Tett, L., Anderson, K., McNeill, F., Overy, K. and Sparks, R. (2012) ‘Learning, rehabilitation and the arts in prisons: a Scottish case study ’ Studies in the Education of Adults , 44 (2), pp. 171-185. ISSN 0266-0830
Tett, L., Anderson, K., McNeill, F., Overy, K. and Sparks, R. (2012) ‘Learning, rehabilitation and the arts in prisons: a Scottish case study’ Studies in the Education of Adults , 44 (2), pp. 171-185. ISSN 0266-0830
Tett, L., Hounsell, J., Christie, H., Cree, V. and McCune, V. (2012) ‘Learning from feedback? Mature students’ experiences of assessment in higher education’ Research in Post-Compulsory Education , 17 (2), pp. 247-260. ISSN 1359-6748
Tett, L (2011) ‘Learner identity’. In: The Routledge International Handbook of Learning. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 75-83. ISBN 978-0-415-57130-2
Tett, L. and St Clair, R. (2011) ‘Adult literacy education’. In: Adult Learning and Education. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. pp. 100-106. ISBN 9780123814890
Crowther, J. and Tett, L. (2011) ‘Critical and social literacy practices from the Scottish adult literacy experience: resisting deficit approaches to learning’ Literacy , 45 (3), pp. 134-140. ISSN 1741-4350
Anderson, K., McNeill, F., Overy, K. and Tett, L. (2011) ‘Young Offenders and the Arts: A review of three Inspiring Change arts projects at HMYOI Polmont, Scotland’ Prison Service Journal , 197, pp. 47-52. ISSN 0300-3558
Tett, L., McGovern, M. and Weedon, E. (2011) Analysis of Workplace Literacies Pilot Project Reports 2009 Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government
Maclachlan, K., Tett, L. and Hall, S. (2011) ‘The more you learn the better you feel - research into literacies, learning and identity in Scotland’. In: Tracking Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 329-348. ISBN 9780415807883
Tett, L., Anderson, K., Colvin, S., McNeill, F., Overy, K. and Sparks, R. (2011) ‘Literacy, educational policies, arts and prisons’. In: Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference SCUTREA:Creating and Sustaining International Connections: exploring the learning opportunities for Studying Creative Understandings about Teaching and Research for Equity and Access . Brighton, UK: SCUTREA. pp. 155-162. ISBN 978-0-904242-71-3
Tett, L (2011) ‘Reaching adults with low levels of literacy’. In: Reaching the marginalised: Reflecting on the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010 . Edinburgh, Scotland: The UK National Commission for UNESCO in Scotland. pp. 21-25.
Tett, L. and Crowther, J. (2011) ‘Learning and identity in literacy programs ’. In: Adult Education Research Conference Proceedings. Toronto, Canada: AERC. pp. 688-694.
McCulloch, K., McLaughlin, P., Allison, P., Edwards, V. and Tett, L. (2010) ‘Sail training as education: more than mere adventure’ Oxford Review of Education , 36 (6), pp. 661-676. ISSN 0305-4985
Crowther, J., Maclachlan, K. and Tett, L. (2010) ‘Adult literacy, learning identities and pedagogic practice’ International Journal of Lifelong Education , 29 (6), pp. 651-664. ISSN 0260-1370
Riddell, S. and Tett, L. (2010) ‘Gender balance in teaching debate: tensions between gender theory and equality policy’ International Journal of Inclusive Education , 14 (5), pp. 463-477. ISSN 1360-3116
Tett, L (2010) Community Education, Learning and Development . Edinburgh, Scotland: Dunedin Press . ISBN 9781906716103
St. Clair, R., Tett, L. and Maclachlan, K. (2010) Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies 2009: Report of Findings Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government
Tett, L (2010) ‘Community education and lifelong learning ’. In: SCUTREA (Standing conference on university teaching and research in the education of adults) 40th annual conference, 7th-9th July 2010, University of Warwick
St. Clair, R., Maclachlan, K. and Tett, L. (2010) Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies 2009, Research Findings No: 58/2010: Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government
McCulloch, K. and Tett, L. (2010) ‘Ethics, collaboration and the organisational context of youth work’. In: Ethical Issues in Youth Work. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 38-52. ISBN 9780415499705
Ahlgren, L. and Tett, L. (2010) ‘Work-based learning, identity and organisational culture’ Studies in Continuing Education , 32 (1), pp. 17-27. ISSN 0158-037X
St. Clair, R., Tett, L. and Maclachlan, K. (2010) Evaluation of the Scottish Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALN) Strategy - Research Findings Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government
Tett, L. and St Clair, R. (2010) ‘Adult literacy education’. In: International Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. . ISBN 9780080448930
Cree, V., Hounsell, J., Christie, H., McCune, V. and Tett, L. (2009) ‘From Further Education to Higher Education: Social Work Students' Experiences of Transition to an Ancient, Research?Led University’ Social Work Education , 28 (8), pp. 887-901. ISSN 0261-5479
St. Clair, R., Maclachlan, K. and Tett, L. (2009) ‘Educational entrepreneurs? Practitioner-led action research and the formation of the professional adult literacies instructor’ Studies in the Education of Adults , 41 (2), pp. 175-191. ISSN 0266-0830
Tett, L. and Riddell, S. (2009) ‘Educators’ responses to policy concerns about the gender balance of the teaching profession in Scotland’ Journal of Education Policy , 24 (4), pp. 477-493. ISSN 0268-0939
Tett, L (2009) ‘Research and student voice ’. In: SCUTREA (Standing conference on university teaching and research in the education of adults) 39th annual conference, 7th-9th July 2009, University of Cambridge
Maclachlan, K. and Tett, L. (2009) ‘Let's get together: re-thinking effective literacies learning in learner's lives’. In: Centre for Research in Learning CRLL Conference 2009, 23-26 June 2009,
Tett, L (2009) ‘Assessing adult literacies' learning in non-formal contexts’. In: Centre for Research in Learning CRLL Conference 2009, 23-26 June 2009,
Tett, L., McLennan, F. and Edwards, V. (2009) Credit Where Credit's Due: Recognising Literacies Learning . Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government . ISBN 9780755955206
Tett, L. and Maclachlan, K. (2008) ‘Learners, tutors and power in adult literacies research in Scotland’ International Journal of Lifelong Education , 27 (6), pp. 659-672. ISSN 0260-1370
Christie, H., Tett, L., Cree, V., Hounsell, J. and McCune, V. (2008) ‘‘A real rollercoaster of confidence and emotions’: learning to be a university student’ Studies in Higher Education , 33 (5), pp. 567-581. ISSN 0307-5079
Tett, L (2008) ‘Policy discourses and socially situated participation in education’. In: SCUTREA 2008 38th Annual Conference Proceedings:Whither Adult Education in the Learning Paradigm? . Edinburgh, UK: Moray House School of Education and SCUTREA. pp. 496-503. ISBN 978-0-901580-01-6
Crowther, J., Tett, L. and Edwards, V. (2008) Building Connections, Getting Involved: Measuring Social Capital Outcomes of Community Learning and Development . Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government . ISBN 978 0 7559 1668 9
Hall, S., Maclachlan, K., Tett, L. and Edwards, V. (2008) Mapping Youth Literacies Practice with The 16 - 25 Age Group . Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government . ISBN 9780755955206
Sliwka, A. and Tett, L. (2008) ‘Case study: Scotland’. In: Teaching, Learning and Assessment for Adults: Improving Foundation Skills. Paris, France: OECD - Centre for Research and Innovation. . ISBN 9789264039902
McCulloch, K. and Tett, L. (2008) ‘Integrated Community Schools and Social Inclusion ’. In: Safeguarding Children and Schools. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley. pp. 42-53. ISBN 9781843105145
Tett, L., Bamber, J., Edwards, V., Martin, I. and Shaw, M. (2007) Developing Competence: Early and Mid Career in Community Learning and Development Edinburgh, Scotland: The Scottish Government
Tett, L. and Maclachlan, K. (2007) ‘Adult literacy and numeracy, social capital, learner identities and self-confidence ’ Studies in the Education of Adults , 39 (2), pp. 150-167. ISSN 0266-0830
Tett, L (2007) ‘Community education in Scotland’. In: Community Education and its contribution to a Social Europe: concepts; perspectives, implementation. Bruno, Czech Republic: Ostrava. pp. 45-68.
Tett, L (2007) ‘Multi-agency working in urban education and social justice’. In: International Handbook of Urban Education. London, UK: Springer. pp. 1139-1156. ISBN 978-1-4020-5198-2
Tett, L (2007) ‘Working in and with civil society’. In: Radical Learning for Liberation . Maynooth, Ireland: Centre for Adult and Community Education, St. Patrick's College. pp. 67-77.
Tett, L. and Riddell, S. (2006) Gender and teaching: where have all the men gone? . Policy and Practice in Education. Edinburgh, Scotland: Dunedin Press . ISBN 9781903765579
Tett, L (2006) ‘Learning in non-formal settings and the development of 'really useful' knowledge’. In: Learning Outside the Academy: International Research Perspectives on Lifelong Learning. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 120-132. ISBN 978-0-415-36585-7
Tett, L (2006) ‘Community education: participation, risk and desire’. In: Gender and Lifelong Learning: critical feminist engagements. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 97-107. ISBN 978-0-415-37485-9
Christie, H., Cree, V., Hounsell, J., McCune, V. and Tett, L. (2006) ‘From college to university: looking backwards, looking forwards’ Research in Post-Compulsory Education , 11 (3), pp. 351-365. ISSN 1359-6748
Maclachlan, K. and Tett, L. (2006) ‘Learning to Change or Changing the Learning: Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland ’ Journal of Adult and Continuing Education , 12 (2), pp. 195-206. ISSN 1477-9714
Tett, L (2006) ‘Adult literacies and social inclusion: practice, research and policy in Scotland’. In: Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Language: Policy, Practice and Research. London, UK: Open University Press. pp. 42-52. ISBN 9780335219377
Bamber, J., Galloway, V. and Tett, L. (2006) ‘Widening Participation and meta-learning: risking less in HE’ Journal of Adult and Continuing Education , 12 (1), pp. 20-34. ISSN 1477-9714
Tett, L., Maclachlan, K., Hall, S., Edwards, V. and Garside, L. (2006) Evaluation of the Scottish Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALN) Strategy - Final Report Glasgow, Scotland: Scottish Executive
Riddell, S., Tett, L., Ducklin, A., Stafford, A., Winterton, M., Burns, C. and Ferrie, J. (2006) ‘The gender balance of the teaching workforce in Scotland: What’s the problem? ’ Scottish Educational Review , 38 (1), pp. 73-92. ISSN 0141-9072
Tett, L (2006) Community education lifelong learning and social inclusion . Policy and Practice in Education. Edinburgh, Scotland: Dunedin Press . ISBN 9781903765562
Tett, L (2005) ‘Inter-agency partnerships and Integrated Community Schools a Scottish perspective’ Support for Learning , 20 (4), pp. 157-161. ISSN 1467-9604
Tett, L (2005) ‘Learning literacy and identity’. In: Class Concerns: Adult Education and Social Class. San Francisco, California, USA: Jossey Bass. pp. 27-36. ISBN 978-0-7879-8128-0
Tett, L (2005) ‘Community development’. In: International Encyclopedia of Adult Education. London, UK: Palgrave Macmilan. pp. 126-130. ISBN 9781403917355
Tett, L (2005) ‘Activism’. In: International Encyclopedia of Adult Education. London, UK: Palgrave Macmilan. pp. 21-25. ISBN 9781403917355
Tett, L (2005) ‘Partnerships, community groups and social inclusion’ Studies in Continuing Education , 27 (1), pp. 1-15. ISSN 0158-037X
Tett, L. and McCulloch, K. (2005) ‘Inter-agency partnerships and school-family-community links to prevent social exclusion’. In: Service Integration in Scottish Schools: Values, vision and vital voices . Aberdeen, UK: University of Aberdeen. . ISBN 1-903714-12- 5
Tett, L (2005) ‘Literacy, learning and social inclusion’. In: 'Old' and 'new' Worlds of Adult Learning. Wroclaw, Poland: University of Lower Silesia Press. pp. 458-470.
Tett, L (2005) ‘School community partnerships in Scotland’ Education Links , 69, pp. 37-42. ISSN 0814-6802
Riddell, S. and Tett, L. (2004) ‘New Community Schools and Inter?agency working: assessing the effectiveness of social justice initiatives’ London Review of Education , 2 (3), pp. 219-228. ISSN 1474-8460
Tett, L (2004) ‘Mature working class students in an ‘elite’ university: discourses of risk, choice and exclusion’ Studies in the Education of Adults , 36 (2), pp. 252-264. ISSN 0266-0830
McCulloch, K., Tett, L. and Crowther, J. (2004) ‘New Community Schools in Scotland: issues for inter-professional collaboration’ Scottish Educational Review , 36 (2), pp. 129-144. ISSN 0141-9072
Tett, L (2004) ‘Parents and school communities in Japan and Scotland: contrasts in policy and practice in primary schools’ International Journal of Lifelong Education , 23 (3), pp. 259-273. ISSN 0260-1370
Tett, L (2003) ‘Education and community health: identity, social justice and lifestyle issues in communities’. In: Social Justice, Education and Identity. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 83-96. ISBN 978-0-415-29695-3
Smith, M. and Tett, L. (2003) ‘New Community Schools and pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties’ ’ Scottish Educational Review , 34 (2), pp. 151-162. ISSN 0141-9072
Tett, L., Crowther, J. and O'Hara, P. (2003) ‘Collaborative partnerships in community education’ Journal of Education Policy , 18 (1), pp. 37-51. ISSN 0268-0939
Tett, L (2003) ‘Adult education, women and health in social excluded communities’. In: AERC 2003 The 44th Annual Adult Education Research Conference, 6th-8th June 2003, San Francisco, California, USA
Tett, L (2003) Working in partnership . NIACE lifelines in adult learning. Leicester, UK: NIACE . ISBN 978-1-86201-162-5
Tett, L (2002) ‘Gender, education and health issues in the community’. In: The Politics of Gender and Education. London, UK: Centre for Research and Education on Gender, Institute of Education, University of London. pp. 75-81.
Crowther, J. and Tett, L. (2001) ‘Democracy as a way of life: literacy for citizenship’. In: Powerful Literacies. Leicester, UK: NIACE. pp. 108-118. ISBN 978-1-86201-94-9
Hamilton, M., Macrae, C. and Tett, L. (2001) ‘Literacy and the policy discourse in the UK and Ireland’. In: Powerful Literacies. Leicester, UK: NIACE. pp. 23-42. ISBN 978-1-86201-94-9
Tett, L., Munn, P., Kay, H., Martin, I., Martin, J. and Ranson, S. (2001) ‘Schools, community education and collaborative practice in Scotland’. In: Education, Social Justice and Inter-Agency Working. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 105-123. ISBN 978-0-415-24922-5
Kasama, H. and Tett, L. (2001) ‘Involving parents as partners in their children's education in Japan and Scotland’. In: Education, Social Justice and Inter-Agency Working. London, UK: Routledge. pp. 215-233. ISBN 978-0-415-24922-5
Tett, L (2001) ‘Parents as problems or parents as people? Parental involvement programmes, schools and adult educators’ International Journal of Lifelong Education , 20 (3), pp. 188-198. ISSN 0260-1370
Tett, L (2001) ‘Collaborating for Social Justice: Limits and possibilities for youth workers and schoolteachers in Scotland’ Education Links , 61, pp. 31-34. ISSN 0814-6802
Tett, L., Caddell, D., Crowther, J. and O'Hara, P. (2001) ‘Parents and Schools: partnerships in early primary education’ Scottish Educational Review , 33 (1), pp. 48-58. ISSN 0141-9072
Tett, L., Munn, P., Blair, A., Kay, H., Martin, I., Martin, J. and Ranson, S. (2001) ‘Collaboration between schools and community education agencies in tackling social exclusion’ Research Papers in Education , 16 (1), pp. 3-21. ISSN 0267-1522
Tett, L (2001) ‘Health concerns in communities and the wider benefits of learning: perspectives from practice in Scotland’. In: Wider benefits of learning: understanding and monitoring the consequences of adult learning. Lisbon, Portugal: ESREA. pp. 100-105.
2000 - 2005 Chair, Community Learning Research Network for Scotland
2009 - 12 Member Standards Council for Community Learning and Development, Scotland
2011 - 12 Chair, Scottish Government Working Group on Adult Literacies and Professional Development
2001 - 2004 Scottish Representative, National Training Organisation for Community Based Learning (PAOLO)
2009 – 2012 Book Reviews Editor, Studies in the Education of Adults
Other external examining
2008 – Presentation ‘Scotland: a case study’ OECD conference ‘Improving teaching and assessment for adult foundational learners’, Paris
2009 – Keynote address ‘Connecting learning, living and creativity’ Annual NIACE & UCU conference, Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Learn, London
2010 – Keynote address ‘Reaching adult with low levels of literacy’ UNESCO Scottish Committee Conference ‘Understanding Literacy in Changing Economic and Social Circumstances’, Glasgow
2012 – Keynote Lecture ‘Community based education and learning’, 43rd EUCEN Conference, University of Graz, Austria
‘Adult Basic Education Seminar Group’ July 02 – May 04. Funders ESRC, £14000, NRDC, £4000, Scottish Executive, £2000.
‘Developing an adult literacy and numeracy curriculum’, January 03 to December 04. Funder, Communities Scotland £100,000 total (Joint with SFEU)
Evaluation of the Adult Literacy and Numeracy Strategy’, July 03 to June 05. Funder Scottish Executive £199,000 (joint with Glasgow University)
Integrated Community Schools Project Evaluation, April 04 to April 05, Funder, Fife Council £20, 055 (Dr McCulloch was PI).
Literacy and Equality in Irish Society, January 05 to March 06, Funder: Queens University, Belfast/EU, £6000
Adult Literacy and Numeracy Curriculum Framework for Scotland Roll-Out, March 05 to April 06, Funder Learning Connections, £70, 717.
Gender imbalance in the teaching workforce (Prof Riddell was PI), Funder: Scottish Executive, January 05 to June 05, £43,000
‘Literature Review of Community Learning and Development’, Funder: Communities Scotland, January-March 2006, £18681
OECD/CERI study on "Improving Teaching and Learning for Adults with Basic Skill Needs through Formative Assessment", February 06 to May 06, Funder: Learning Connections, £9000
‘Identifying and quantifying the social capital outcomes of CLD: a pilot study’, (J. Crowther was PI) Feb 07 – April 07, Funder: Learning Connections, £22,551
‘Developing competence: early and mid-career in CLD’, March – July 2007, Funder: Learning Connections, £17, 907
‘Credit where credit’s due: recognizing literacies learning’, August – March 2008, Funder: Learning Connections, £25, 660
‘Analysis of Workplace Literacies Pilot Project Reports’ March – August 2009, Funder: Scottish Government, £2000
‘Scottish Survey of Adult Literacy and Numeracy’ March 2009 – June 2010, Funder: Scottish Government/Glasgow University, £9405
‘Health Issues in the Community’ January 2000 – December 2010, Funder: Health Scotland, £100,000
‘Inspire Evaluation’ March 2010 – March 2011, Funder: Motherwell College, £4040
‘Community Learning and Development Guidance Strategy Discussion Summary’, March-April 2012, Funder: Education Scotland, £4000
Conference Presentations
2008 – Presentation ‘Scotland: a case study’ OECD conference ‘Improving teaching and assessment for adult foundational learners’, Paris
2012 – Keynote Lecture ‘Community based education and learning’, 43rd EUCEN Conference, University of Graz, Austria
