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Research

Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Research in Education

CELT is the home for our educational research across all phases, nationally and internationally, in and beyond formal settings.  Our work is infused with a commitment to educational equity and to increasing social mobility. This is reflected in our research areas:

  • Addressing educational inequalities
  • Enhancements in pedagogy and curricula design
  • Practice-based and professional learning
  • Digital literacies and AI in education

In our work, and collaborations across research institutes we employ and develop a range of research methodologies: participatory, auto-ethnographic and statistical.

The research centre draws together specialist educational researchers around these key areas. Reflecting the nature of education, its research is characterised by interdisciplinarity, mixed methodologies and a collaborative research culture. It works to be a supportive environment to develop early career researchers and those researching within a teaching-intensive context.

For more information about the Research centre, please contact Robert Ellis.

Our People

Robert Ellis

Rob is Director of Learning and Teaching at the University of Suffolk.

Dr Javiera Atenas

Javiera leads the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PgCAP) and is Senior Lecturer in Learning and Teaching Enhancement.

Dr Pere Ayling

Nigerian-born Dr Pere Ayling is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years and has over 10 years of teaching experience in early years, primary and higher education.

Paulo Vieira Braga

Paulo is a Research Fellow and has interest in data science and education.

Dr Jo Finch

Jo is a Professor of Social Work.. She's known internationally for her work on practice learning, and writes on PREVENT and social work.

Dr Ivana Lessner Listiakova

Ivana is an Associate Professor in Childhood and Education.

Dr Sam Chenery-Morris

Dr Sam Chenery-Morris is the Executive Dean of the School of Business, Arts, Social Sciences and Technology.

Dr Abbie Millett

Abbie is an experienced educator and is Lecturer in Psychology.

Dr Pallawi Sinha

Pallawi is Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies and is passionate about building dialogue and understanding on education and childhoods.

Dr Marianna Stella

Marianna is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Education.

Professor Ruth Strudwick

Ruth is Head of Allied Health Professions and Associate Professor in Diagnostic Radiography.

Close-up of student writing on a whiteboard

Current Projects

  • Impact of University of Suffolk’s Block and Blend pedagogy on HE student performance and outcomes — Dr Ellen Buck, Paulo Viera Braga [QAA study with DMU], Dr Carmen Ortiz Granero, Dr Reilly Willis, Dr Abbie Millett, Dr David Atkins.

  • Developing Open Data and data governance to inform government policy [UNESCO funded] - Dr Javiera Atenas.

  • Student ambassadors as agents in improving access to HE for underrepresented groups [Erasmus+ funded] — Dr Clare Gartland, Dr Ivana Lessner-Listiakova, Dr Violeta Negrea, Dr Pere Ayling, Dr Tuba Gokpinar

  • Widening participation in STEM through teacher networks and CPD [RAEng funded] Dr Clare Gartland, Dr Tuba Gokpinar, Dr Cristian Dogaru

  • Working with KS2 teachers, cultural and sci-tech organisations developing arts-STEM integrated curricula [Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded] Dr Jo Trowsdale

  • Developing employability through micro-placements — Small ‘n’ study [TASO funded] Professor Clare Rigg, Dr Laura Reeves, Amy Carpenter.

  • Developing and enacting play in compulsory school contexts through collaboration [Bristol Local Authority funded] — Dr Phil Nicholson

  • Mapping and reviewing music education [Pears Britten funded] — Dr David James, Dr David Atkins, Dr Phil Nicholson

 

For informal discussions and enquiries please contact Dr Jo Trowsdale 

jo.trowsdale@uos.ac.uk

 

Events

Upcoming CELT Led Educational Research Events

Find out more
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Additional Information

More on Directorate of Learning and Teaching
More on Department of Library and Learning Services
More on Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy
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Latest News

The outside of the Waterfront Building at the University of Suffolk on a sunny day
Student research showcased in new volume published by University

High-quality research by University of Suffolk students is being showcased in a new journal volume to give promising students their first experience of academic publishing and the peer review process.

A pint of Science event elsewhere in the UK. A researcher is standing on a small stage with a screen visible behind and presenting to a pub room full of listening participants
Pint of Science Festival 2026 coming to Suffolk

Ten researchers from the University of Suffolk will be heading to the pub in May to share their research projects with the local community as part of the Pint of Science Festival 2026.

The mini SiSU station in use on the Be Well Bus
People urged to self-test after more than a third of adults studied in Suffolk and north east Essex have raised blood pressure

A new study has found that more than a third of people using self-serve health check machines in community locations across Suffolk and north east Essex had at-risk or high-risk blood pressure readings.

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