Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Educational research centre to promote social justice
The Centre for Social and Educational Research across the Life Course (SERL) will be based in the University's Carnegie Faculty, uniting both new and established researchers and research students across the university.
Head of the Centre, Professor Sue Clegg, commented: "The new Centre will study different stages of the social and educational life course, from childhood and early years to schooling, playwork, Further and Higher Education and internationalisation, but with the common theme of social justice and equality. We aim to create a community and close communication between researchers working in different areas as well as between researchers and research users, shaping the way that we work and providing a vibrant atmosphere for our research students."
Experts in the Centre are currently working in partnerships with schools, the Higher Education Academy, and international organisations on projects including: research into the effects of therapeutic playwork on abandoned children in Romania, work to improve the degree attainment of black and minority ethnic students, and work drawing on adult memories to examine childhood and social change in the 20th Century including the influence of war and technological change.
The launch event will take place in the Gandhi Hall at the University's Headingley Campus and will include presentations from SERL researchers and roundtable discussions around the key themes with a closing lecture by Professor Terry Wrigley entitled 'Living on the edge: rethinking poverty, class and education'.