Education Research clusters

Research Clusters at the School of Education are environments designed to develop skills, interests and partnerships with a view to feeding into established research groups. Cluster members are able to build formal and informal relationships whilst focusing their research interests.

Visit our clusters

Developmental support clusters at the School of Education enable staff and students to enhance their research skills and focus their interests. Researchers join support clusters according to their particular educational research interests as opposed to what school or department they are in. Coordinated by an experienced researcher, each cluster acts as a base for the identification and delivery of professional development needs.

• Critical policy studies in education
• Developing pedagogy
• Childhood Research Cluster
• Education for Social Inclusion and Social Justice
• Professional Learning
• Research in Higher Education (RiHE) 

The Research in Higher Education cluster is one of three clusters that form the Learning and Teaching Research Network (LTRN), which was created to bring together staff involved in learning and teaching research across the University by funding and supporting key strategic areas of learning and teaching areas such as the Widening Participation, Learning, Teaching and Assessment, Technology Supported Learning, Student Support and the Student experience, Employability and Diversity and Inclusivity. .

Research relationships

This idea of uniting new and experienced researchers in compatible areas of work allows for formal and informal mentoring relationships to develop. In addition, readers and writers groups have been established, in which members read and write together by sharing and receiving feedback on work in progress and reviewing literature in areas of common interest. Many of the clusters are multi-disciplinary and feed into the more established research groups.

Supporting and Guiding Budding Researchers

Developing researchers receive guidance in several forms within their cluster including;

• support in making bids for funding;
• assistance in finding support to improve their research and writing skills;
• guidance in accessing means of disseminating their work.

In addition, a wide range of development opportunities are provided including workshops and seminars concerning writing for academic publications, submitting funding applications, literature searches and project management.

Extensive use is also made of visiting professors with national and international reputations. These professors not only support publications, but raise aspirations of staff and help them build supportive networks both internally and externally