Centre for Educational Research
Coventry University’s educational research community brings together the work of academic and professional staff from across the University. This community includes a broad base of researchers engaged in studying a range of topics related to educational, and in particular, pedagogical research. This diversity is a strength that emerges from the networks and complex fabric of contemporary higher education.
Different disciplines tend to adopt a number of pedagogical strategies and have very dissimilar student populations allowing interventions to be tested more thoroughly. These factors add to the richness of the work and to the potential for fruitful collaboration across departments and faculties. Such collaboration is supported by the use of technology for community building and for enhancing learning which reflects the institution’s investment in and use of technology, for which it has a robust track record. The resultant infrastructure supports both pure and ‘solutions focused’ applied research leading to the ability to demonstrate impact outside of the institution as well as within.
Involvement in the Centre for Educational Research provides opportunity for colleagues to develop through the network to join a core of staff who will be submitted for the Research Excellence Framework in 2013. The challenge amidst diversity is to gain commitment to the sharing and application of research into discipline specific pedagogical practices.
Aim
The aim of the Centre for Educational Research is to offer a focus for all educational research to underpin and enhance the Coventry University mission as an evolving and innovative university with a growing reputation for excellence in education and to provide an infrastructure that will support the Research Excellence Framework.
Objectives
- Produce high-quality educational research that has positive impact both within and beyond educational institutions
- Develop and sustain a highly engaged pedagogical research community
- Promote cross institutional and inter-institutional research collaboration
- Promote the profile of the Centre across the higher education sector
- Act as a vehicle for local, national and international dissemination of educational and pedagogical research
- Provide mentorship opportunities for early career researchers and those new to educational /pedagogical research
- Support peer mentorship and peer review processes
Contact:
Group leader Dr Lynn Clouder, email D.L.Clouder@coventry.ac.uk for further information or for access to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) staff collaboration site.