Education Research
Our theme develops collaborative education research and supports staff and student education researchers.
Our mission
We aim to support the professional development of colleagues and students across the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS). This includes those from all backgrounds and disciplines, whatever their experience in education research. We aim to support members in developing their education research skills, and identifying and establishing workstreams. This allows for the enhancement of education across key domains linked to the university education strategy.
Our members
Our theme welcomes anyone in FMS with an interest in enhancing research-based educational practice at Newcastle University and beyond. We welcome:
- educators
- researchers
- teaching-support colleagues
We welcome these colleagues at all career stages, and from all FMS Schools or Institutes. We also welcome FMS undergraduate students with an interest in the theme.FMS postgraduate students whose projects may include elements of education research are also welcome.
Our support for members
We have developed strategies for supporting professional development, research skills, and communities of practice for our members.
We host a programme of regular events. These provide opportunities for theme members to meet to discuss their research and form new collaborations. We organise:
- seminars delivered both by external speakers and by Newcastle colleagues
- regular undergraduate and postgraduate student-focused research events
- an annual event to showcase projects for FMS Education Research Development and Practice (ERDP) grant holders
Our events are typically delivered in a hybrid format. This allows clinical colleagues and members based in NUMed Malaysia to attend.
As part of our events series we host research skills training workshops. These are for novice and experienced education researchers. We provide training and resources to support:
- starting research
- exploring the literature
- systematic reviews
- research design
- ethics and governance
- methods for both quantitative and qualitative approaches
- writing for publication.
We also host regular writing workshops and retreats for education researchers.
Postgraduate research students working on education projects are typically based within Schools and Institutes across FMS. Our theme provides an important opportunity for these students to meet and collaborate. Our postgraduate research community includes home and international students pursuing full-time studies and staff candidates carrying out PhD work alongside their existing job roles.
Our research strategy
Our theme members have developed four key workstream areas. We focus our collaborative education research projects. Educators, teaching-support staff, students, and education researchers created these workstreams. We are also highly supportive of projects that cross boundaries between workstreams. Our topics are central to the context and direction of education within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. They also surround medical and medical sciences disciplines across the higher education sector.
This workstream concerns the broad, varied, and rapidly developing field of digital technology. Colleagues must address this to effectively enhance the provision of effective modern education. Topics include:
- digital capabilities
- digital educational resources
- digital learning environments
- artificial intelligence in educational contexts
This workstream area is aimed at colleagues with an interest in ensuring our students and graduates are ‘fit for future’. This surrounds their studies at Newcastle University, their life and careers after graduation. Topics include:
- transitions into, within, and out of university
- student and graduate skills development
- professionalism
- employability
This concerns colleagues with an interest in conducting research. This can be in any area of learning, teaching, and assessment. Topics include:
- summative and formative assessment and feedback
- evaluation of teaching approaches
- teacher practitioner development
This area surrounds conducting research that improves the experiences and outcomes for students. We aim to improve this for students from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Topics include:
- strategies for providing inclusivity and accessibility in learning contexts
- student experience and academic performance across diverse groups
- initiatives for enhancing student experiences and opportunities
To join the theme, please complete the FMS Research Theme Registration Form
If you have any questions, please contact the Theme Lead or Co-Leads.
Theme Lead: Dr Bryan Burford
Theme Co-lead: Dr Vanessa Armstrong
Theme Co-lead: Prof Iain Keenan