Research

Institute team members are leading experts in lifelong learning, with strengths in adult and continuing education, post-14 education, further education, higher education, educational leadership, management and professional development, learning at work, literacies, social inequality and widening participation, multi-agency working in education and welfare, and career guidance.

Research Expertise

Through its members, their 'home' departments and research centres, the Lifelong Learning Institute can draw upon multi-disciplinary research expertise on a large range of lifelong learning issues. This range is continuing to expand, as new projects are won, and new members join.

Sectors of Lifelong Learning Activity

Institute members have expertise in different sectors of Lifelong Learning. Within those sectors, particular areas of strength are indicated.

  • Post-14 education
  • Youth
  • Further Education
  • Higher Education
  • Adult Education, including Lifelong Learning in general
  • Learning at Work
  • Educational Leadership, Management and Professional Development

Youth

Institute members have extensive expertise in the education and training of young people, especially in the 14 to 21 age range. Particular interests include:

  • Post-14 education and curriculum issues
  • Transitions from school to further education, higher education, youth training and work
  • Social exclusion and disaffection
  • Relations between family and educational experiences
  • Career decision making, careers education and guidance

Further Education

Institute members have researched in and worked with Further Education colleges. Areas of particular interest include:

  • Policy for Further Education
  • Young people's experiences of Further Education
  • Learning and Teaching in Further Education
  • Dropouts and retention in Further Education.

Higher Education

Institute members not only have research expertise in relation to Higher Education; they also have considerable development experience in relation to a wide range of HE issues and practices. Areas where this combined expertise is at its strongest include:

  • Higher Education policy
  • Pedagogic identities in Higher Education
  • Academic work and the academic workplace 
  • Learning in Higher Education, including ICT
  • Academic writing and literacies 
  • Widening participation in Higher Education
  • Guidance and tutoring in Higher Education
  • Work-based and work-related learning
  • Education for employability
  • Research cultures in Higher Education
  • The development of researchers

Adult Education, including Lifelong Learning in general

There is a strong tradition of work in this area in the University of Leeds. Current areas of particular expertise include:

  • Policy for adult education and lifelong learning
  • Social exclusion and widening access to adult learning
  • Disability and gender in relation to adult education and lifelong learning
  • History of adult education
  • Regional structures for lifelong learning
  • Adult learning, skills and employability
  • The learning and teaching of adults
  • Creative writing
  • ICT and web-based learning

Learning at Work

Institute members have particular expertise in relation to work-based learning, including a long tradition of work with Trades Unions. Strengths include:

  • Policy for work-based learning
  • The nature of learning in the workplace
  • The impact of Trades Unions on work-based learning
  • Training, learning with small-and medium-sized employers
  • History of Trades Unionism
  • Gender, work and learning
  • Work and family life
  • Disability and work
  • Skills, skill formation and employability
  • Professional learning and professional education.

Educational Leadership, Management and Professional Development

  • Staff morale, job satisfaction and motivation
  • International inter-cultural perspectives on educational leadership and management
  • Leadership and management in higher education and in schools
  • Professionalism and professionality
  • The development of professional cultures

More details of the particular strengths and experiences of Institute members can be found under members and research projects, and through the list of affiliated Centres.

Last updated by Miriam Zukas on 7th August 2007